Air quality
The air we breathe contains emissions from motor vehicles, industry, heating and commercial sources, as well as tobacco smoke and household fuels. Air pollution harms human health, particularly in those already vulnerable because of their age or existing health problems.
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“Visualizing” both the health and economic gains can help persuade policy-makers to improve environmental health and obtain government support,
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- Making the European Region free of asbestos-related diseases
- New publication: Combined or multiple exposure to health stressors in indoor built environments
- Almost 600 000 deaths due to air pollution in Europe: new WHO global report
Publications
Recommendations for concentration–response functions for cost–benefit analysis of particulate matter, ozone and nitrogen dioxide
More publicationsWHO air quality guidelines
The WHO air quality guidelines for outdoor air pollution represent the most widely accepted and up-to-date assessment of health effects of air pollution, recommending targets for air quality at which health risks are significantly reduced.
Air quality guidelines. Global update 2005. Particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxideIn countries
Air pollution
- Health effects of black carbon
- Health risks of ozone from long-range transboundary air pollution
- Health risks of heavy metals from long-range transboundary air pollution
- Health aspects of long-range transboundary air pollution
Data and statistics
One year of life expectancy is lost for every person in the WHO European Region due to exposure to particulate matter (PM). This is mostly due to the increased risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and lung cancer.
More informationKey policy resources
Parma DeclarationFifth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, Parma, Italy, 2010
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