Almost all of the world’s population lives in areas where air quality exceeds limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO), a new report by the global body out today (27 September, 2016) has revealed.
An air quality model, which is the most detailed outdoor – or ambient – air pollution-related health data, by country, ever reported by WHO, shows that 92% of the global population live in towns and cities where air pollution is prevalent.
The interactive maps are based on data from satellite measurements, air transport models and ground station monitors for more than 3,000 rural and urban locations.
Developed by WHO with the University of Bath, England, the model has carefully calibrated data from satellite and ground stations and national air pollution exposures were analysed against population and air pollution levels at a grid resolution of about 10 km x 10 km.
Dr Maria Neira, WHO director, Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health, said the new WHO model was a “big step forward towards even more confident estimates of the huge global burden of more than 6 million deaths”.
“More and more cities are monitoring air pollution now, satellite data is more comprehensive, and we are getting better at refining the related health estimates,” she added.
Dr Flavia Bustreo, assistant director general at WHO, added: “The new WHO model shows countries where the air pollution danger spots are, and provides a baseline for monitoring progress in combating it.
“Air pollution continues to take a toll on the health of the most vulnerable populations – women, children and the older adults. For people to be healthy, they must breathe clean air from their first breath to their last.”
Approximately three million deaths a year are linked to exposure to outdoor air pollution, while in 2012, an estimated 6.5 million deaths – 11.6% of all global deaths – were linked to both indoor and outdoor air pollution.
Just under 90% of deaths that are linked to air-pollution happen in low- and middle-income countries, with nearly two thirds in WHO’s South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions.
The interactive map provides information on population-weighted exposure to particulate matter of an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres (PM2.5) for all countries. The map also indicates data on monitoring stations for PM10 and PM2.5values for about 3000 cities and towns.
Dr Neira said action to tackle air pollution cannot come soon enough.
“Solutions exist with sustainable transport in cities, solid waste management, access to clean household fuels and cook-stoves, as well as renewable energies and industrial emissions reductions,” she added.
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