Time to harmonize national ambient air quality standards

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Public Health Policy
• Air Quality Science

Background:

• The World Health Organization (WHO) established global ambient air quality guidelines to protect human health.
• These guidelines aim to assist nations in setting their own air quality standards.
• The extent to which countries adhere to these WHO guidelines remains largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess global adherence to World Health Organization (WHO) ambient air quality guidelines.
• To compile and analyze national air quality standards for key pollutants worldwide.
• To identify disparities in air quality regulations across different countries.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive inventory of national air quality standards for 194 countries was created.
• Data were collected for six major air pollutants: PM2.5, PM10, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide.
• Information was gathered through literature reviews, internet searches, and direct contact with national representatives.

Main Results:

• Air quality standards information was obtained for 170 countries.
• 57 countries reported having no established national air quality standards.
• Significant variations in air quality standards were observed globally, with many countries poorly complying with WHO guidelines for PM2.5, PM10, and SO2.

Conclusions:

• Discrepancies in regulatory approaches reflect global variations in air quality and associated disease burdens.
• Governments should implement evidence-based air quality standards and management strategies.
• Continuous efforts are needed to enhance air quality at local, national, and international levels.