WHO Updates Air Quality Guidelines

WHO Updates Air Quality Guidelines
Photo by Pixabay

Katherine Willey

Environment & Human Rights Researcher 

Global Human Rights Defence

 

For the first time in 13 years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reviewed its Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) in an effort to protect populations from the harmful effects of pollution. The new AQGs further limit acceptable levels of particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide, most of which are emitted through the burning of fossil fuels. In doing so, the WHO aims to improve human health and slow the progression of climate change 

An estimated 7 million people die due to poor air quality each year. High concentrations of the chemicals listed above can cause a variety of health problems in people of all ages, including stunted lung development in children, asthma, heart disease and strokes. The WHO argues that up to 80% of these deaths could be prevented if governments commit to the new AQGs. However, while there has been some progress in improving air quality, up to 90% of the world’s population still live in areas which do not yet meet the 2005 guidelines. Moreover, severe pollution disproportionately affects developing countries, which have a greater reliance on burning fossil fuels.

These new stricter standards and the UN climate negotiations in Glasgow this November provide a good opportunity for governments to re-evaluate their commitments and curb air pollution, ensuring the health of their populations.

 

Bibliography

All Africa. (2021). Uganda: New WHO Air Quality Rules Pile Pressure on Kampala. https://allafrica.com/stories/202109270278.html 

Kanwar, S. (2021). New WHO air quality guidelines beneficial in long term, says PGI-Chandigarh professor. The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/new-who-air-quality-guidelines-beneficial-in-long-term-says-pgi-chandigarh-professor/articleshow/86448063.cms 

Nebehay, S., & Januta, A. (2021). New WHO air-quality guidelines aim to cut deaths linked to fossil fuels. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/new-who-air-quality-guidelines-aim-cut-deaths-linked-fossil-fuels-2021-09-22/ 

NOS. (2021). WHO scherpt richtlijnen voor luchtvervuiling aan om miljoenen doden tegen te gaan. https://nos.nl/artikel/2398841-who-scherpt-richtlijnen-voor-luchtvervuiling-aan-om-miljoenen-doden-tegen-te-gaan 

WHO. (2021). New WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines Aim to Save Millions of Lives from Air Pollution. https://www.who.int/news/item/22-09-2021-new-who-global-air-quality-guidelines-aim-to-save-millions-of-lives-from-air-pollution