Jan 27, 2025 · Outdoor and indoor air pollution cause respiratory and other diseases and are important sources of morbidity and mortality. WHO data show that almost all of the global population (99%) breathe air that exceeds WHO guideline limits and contains high levels of pollutants , with low- and middle-income countries suffering from the highest exposures.

Oct 24, 2024 · Most sources of outdoor air pollution are well beyond the control of individuals and this demands concerted action by local, national and regional level policy-makers working in sectors like energy, transport, waste management, urban planning and agriculture. There are many examples of successful policies that reduce air pollution:

WHO monitors the exposure of air pollution and its health impacts (deaths, DALYs) at the national, regional and global level from ambient (outdoor) and household air pollution. Such estimates are used for official reporting like the world health statistics, and the Sustainable Development Goals. The Air Pollution Data Portal includes Burden of Disease statistics, air quality databases and ...

Around 2.4 billion people cook and heat their homes with polluting fuels and every year 3.2 million people die prematurely from household air pollution. More than 99% of the population live in areas where the air pollution is above WHO air quality guidelines and 4.2 million deaths are attributed to ambient air pollution each year.

Jun 25, 2024 · In 2015, WHO Member States adopted a resolution to “address the adverse health effects of air pollution”. Member States then agreed on a road map for “an enhanced global response to the adverse health effects of air pollution”. WHO's work to address the health consequences of air pollution and lack of energy access rests on four pillars:

Apr 1, 2022 · Many of the drivers of air pollution (i.e. combustion of fossil fuels) are also sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Policies to reduce air pollution, therefore, offer a win-win strategy for both climate and health, lowering the burden of disease attributable to air pollution, as well as contributing to the near- and long-term mitigation of ...

Nov 1, 2018 · As the world gets hotter and more crowded, our engines continue to pump out dirty emissions, and half the world has no access to clean fuels or technologies (e.g. stoves, lamps), the very air we breathe is growing dangerously polluted: nine out of ten people now breathe polluted air, which kills 7 million people every year.

Oct 16, 2024 · Household air pollution exposure leads to noncommunicable diseases including stroke, ischaemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. Women and children, typically responsible for household chores such as cooking collecting firewood, bear the greatest health burden from the use of polluting fuels and ...

May 19, 2020 · The unit for Air Quality and Health, Air Pollution and Health, provides support in the development of guidance, tools and provision of expertise and advice on health issues related to air pollution. The unit leads monitoring and reporting on global trends and changes in health outcomes associated with actions taken to address air pollution at national, regional, global levels to protect health.

Air pollution originates from numerous sources of emission, both natural and anthropogenic, with the latter becoming globally dominant since the beginning of industrialization. The process of combustion is the greatest contributor to air pollution, in particular, combustion of fossil fuels and biomass to generate energy.