More than 80% of people living in urban areas that monitor air pollution are exposed to air quality levels that exceed WHO limits. While all regions of the world are affected, populations in low-income cities are the most impacted.According to the latest urban air quality database, 98% of cities in low- and middle income countries […]
PEOPLE ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT AIR POLLUTION THAN NUCLEAR WAR
UN Environment Executive Director Erik Solheim urges all to join the BreatheLife campaign to “take back the air”“In some countries in the world, people are more worried about air pollution than nuclear war! It’s time to take back this planet and breathe cleaner air”, tweeted UN Environment’s Executive Director Erik Solheim.He suggested that people could […]
Beware of Ozone-generating Indoor “Air Purifiers”
Some devices that are advertised as “air purifiers” or air cleaners purposely emit large amounts of ozone, the main component of smog! Not only are such ozone generators ineffective at cleaning indoor air, but breathing ozone poses serious health risks. This fact sheet discusses these health risks and provides effective, alternative solutions to indoor air […]
YOUTH SPRING TO ACTION AGAINST AIR POLLUTION IN THE WORLD’S COLDEST NATIONAL CAPITAL: Initiatives by Government of Mongolia and other organisations target Ulaanbaatar youths
Fifteen-year-old Erdenechimeg puts on her school uniform, a jumper and her snug parka, and sets off on her daily walk to school.On this day, there are blue skies on the walk from her home to school in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; but in winter, when residents in traditional houses burn raw coal to ward against temperatures that […]
The list of diseases linked to air pollution is growing
As governments decide what to do about air quality, studies connect an array of health problems to dirty airTo the residents of Donora, Pa., a mill town in a crook of the Monongahela River, the daily haze from nearby zinc and steel plants was the price of keeping their families fed. But on October 27, […]
Burning plastic waste adds to global air pollution problem: Plastic waste chokes far more than marine life
In a small shed with corrugated tin roofing and skirting, Rosie is lighting a wood fire to cook large tureens and pots heavy with traditional Fijian dishes made of ingredients like marinated fresh fish, taro and coconut milk.She uses a lighter to set fire to a piece of plastic, letting the melting, flaming plastic drip […]
Athletes joins race to beat global air pollution crisis: The International Association of Athletics Federations partners with UN Environment and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to fight air pollution
UN Environment and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) have announced a new partnership to cut air pollution, which leads to 7 million deaths across the world each year.The partnership will be supported by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) who will be working to create an air quality monitoring network that will […]
Q&A Online: Indoor Air Pollution
What are the main sources of household air pollution in developing countries?Nearly 3 billion of the world’s poorest still rely on solid fuels (wood, animal dung, charcoal, crop wastes and coal) burned in inefficient and highly polluting stoves for cooking and heating. The resulting household air pollution led to more than 4 million premature deaths […]
Ambient (outdoor) air quality and health
Key factsAir pollution is a major environmental risk to health. By reducing air pollution levels, countries can reduce the burden of disease from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and both chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma.The lower the levels of air pollution, the better the cardiovascular and respiratory health of the population will be, […]
Air quality Q&A
Q1: What are the health consequences of air pollution?Air pollution increases the risk of respiratory and heart disease in the population. Both short and long term exposure to air pollutants have been associated to health impacts. More severe impacts affect people who are already ill. Children, the elderly and poor people are more susceptible. Q2: How […]
