WHO unveils updated global database of air quality standards
26 February 2025 Departmental update
The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), has unveiled the updated 2025 Air Quality Standards database. This resource compiles national air quality standards for major pollutants and other airborne toxics from countries worldwide. This latest update provides an overview of global efforts towards achieving the WHO global air quality guidelines, with 17% more countries now implementing standards for pollutants that pose a risk to human health.
"The updated WHO Air Quality Standards database is a crucial tool highlighting global progress in setting air quality regulations to protect public health," says Dr Maria Neira, Director, Environment, Climate Change and Health at the World Health Organization. “It provides essential data for evidence based policymaking, helping to reduce air pollutions impacts on communities worldwide.”
Building on previous efforts, the updated database now includes data from approximately 140 countries from all WHO regions, showcasing their air pollution regulatory efforts aimed at protecting public health.
The database is presented as an interactive tool, providing values for both the short and long-term standards for particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3) and carbon monoxide (CO). These values are based on averaging times that align with WHO’s global air quality guidelines.
WHO air quality guidelines as a tool to protect health
The WHO guidelines were published in 2021 to reflect new evidence of the health effects of air pollution. The guidelines recommend lower air quality levels to protect populations, underscoring the need for countries to implement stricter standards and policies to mitigate air pollution and its associated health risks.
The health sector has a critical role to play to promote public health protection through effective air quality governance. Involving the health community in the development of national air quality standards as well as in processes ensuring that air quality standards are embedded in legislation is key to maximize public health protection.
Adopting air quality standards as best buys to prevent noncommunicable diseases
Environmental risks account for a quarter of the disease burden worldwide – with air pollution alone being responsible for almost 7 million deaths. Many of these deaths are preventable through policies in the energy, transport, agriculture, household, industry and other sectors. Air pollution has been recognized as a major risk for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), impacting not only the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, but many more other organs and systems.
The costs of air pollution on the health systems are substantial, and it jeopardizes the health of the most vulnerable such as children, who are affected throughout their entire life course, as well as people with pre-existing diseases.
By compiling national air quality standards into a single, comprehensive database, WHO aims to empower stakeholders such policy makers, public health officials, researchers and other civil society and health organizations with the information necessary to monitor progress, drive policy changes and support the implementation of effective interventions to improve air quality and safeguard public health.
Time to commit for clean air and health
Adopting stricter air quality standards embedded in legislation is the first step – a required best buy – countries can do to commit to combat NCDs and other health outcomes. The upcoming 2nd WHO Conference on Air Pollution and Health will provide an opportunity for countries to commit to tackling air pollution, supported by the health community call for clean air action.
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Access the updated Air Quality Standards database
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Household air pollution 16 October 2024Ambient (outdoor) air pollution 24 October 2024
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Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health 25 – 27 March 2025
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