Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli aggression targets building 9D of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) (IRIB) HQs
Fars News Agency, citing informed sources: The Iranian Armed Forces used the Kheibar-Shekan, Emad, Ghadr, and Fattah missiles in their attacks on the Israeli entity today
Sirens sound from the occupied Golan Heights to Akka and Nahariya
Sirens sound again in the occupied Golan Heights and al-Jalil
Israeli media: Power outages reported in several settlements following a missile attack targeting an infrastructure facility
Israeli media: Strategic location in the south likely hit
Israeli media outlet: Reports of missiles falling in at least 7 areas, including Askalan, Safad, and Isdud
Israeli media: Sirens sounding non-stop across 'Israel' with explosions heard throughout the area
Sirens sound again in the south
Israeli media platform: About 4 missile salvoes were launched across 'Israel'

Air Pollution Kills 7 Million Per Year, Says WHO

  • By Al Mayadeen
  • Source: Agencies
  • 22 Sep 2021 18:54
3 Min Read

As climate change is a leading topic of the United Nations General Assembly, the World Health Organization issued revised Air Quality Guidelines.

  • x
  • Emissions rise from the a coal-fired power plant in Winfield, West Virginia | Bloomber
    Emissions rise from a coal-fired power plant in Winfield, West Virginia (Bloomberg)

The World Health Organization is strengthening its air quality guidelines and setting a higher bar for policymakers and the public - its first update to said guidelines in 15 years.

The UN health agency said air pollution was now a prominent environmental threat to human health, with 7 million premature deaths a year.

"Urgent action is needed" to reduce exposure to air pollution, it said, putting it on the same level as smoking and unhealthy eating.

"WHO has adjusted almost all the air quality guideline levels downwards, warning that exceeding the new... levels is associated with significant risks to health," it said, asserting that adhering to them could save millions of lives.

The guidelines the agency would be implementing aim to protect people from the adverse effects of air pollution. They are to be used by governments as a reference for legally binding standards.

Related News

Half a billion adolescents could face obesity by 2030, report warns

Gaza Ministry reports 136 martyrs in 24 hours amid ongoing genocide

The World Health Organization last issued regulations, named AGQs, in 2005. Those ameliorated pollution abatement policies worldwide.

The WHO said a much stronger body of evidence has emerged during the time since those AGQs were issued. The evidence shows how air pollution has had a negative impact on health at lower concentrations than previously understood. It also says more than 90% of the world's population breathes air with PM2.5 concentrations, which exceeds the recommended levels included in the aforementioned guidelines.

Since their last update, science has greatly improved, as better monitoring cleared up the global picture regarding the effects of six major air pollutants on human health. WHO says around 90% of the populace already live in areas with at least one particularly harmful type of pollutant, including ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide, with the other two being PM10 and the aforementioned PM2.5.

Dr. Dorota Jarosinska, WHO Europe program manager for living and working environments, said exposure to air pollution is estimated to cause 7 million premature deaths, affecting millions' health each year. "Air pollution is now recognized as the single biggest environmental threat to human health," she revealed.

That could include reduced lung growth and function, respiratory infections, and aggravated asthma in children. In adults, it could include coronary heart disease and strokes.

The guidelines are not legally binding, only intended to be used as a reference for policymakers, advocacy groups, and academics. They were released as climate change is a leading topic at the UN General Assembly in New York. They also come just in time for the COP26 global climate summit that is to be held in Glasgow, Scotland from October 31 to November 12.

  • World Health Organization
  • New York
  • United Nations General Assembly
  • Climate change
  • United Nations
  • WHO
STOP THE HEAT: A Climate Change Coverage

STOP THE HEAT: A Climate Change Coverage

Most Read

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Rescue team work at the site where a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)

Wave 12 of Operation True Promise 3 launched, Sejjil deployed: IRGC

  • Politics
  • 18 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches missile barrage to Tel Aviv, casualties reported

True Promise 3, wave 14: Tel Aviv targeted, casualties reported

  • Politics
  • 19 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani, speaks with then-Syrian Prime Minister Imad Khamis in a meeting in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, January 17, 2017 (AP)
Politics

Iran holds the initiative after nuclear strikes, Shamkhani says

Blood stains a religious painting inside Mar Elias Church, where a suicide bomber detonated himself in al-Dwela, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, on Sunday, June 22, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN, regional governments condemn Damascus church bombing

A B-2 bomber arrives at Whiteman Air Force Base Missouri, Sunday, June 22, 2025, after returning from a massive strike on Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday (AP)
Politics

Israeli media: US-Israeli strike on Iran failed to end war

China UN Ambassador Fu Cong addresses the United Nations Security Council, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Politics

China slam US strikes on Iran nuclear sites

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS