WHO air quality database: relevance, history and future developments

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Air pollution is a major risk factor for noncommunicable diseases globally.
• Air quality monitoring is insufficient in many low- and middle-income nations.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) updated its air quality database in 2022, reflecting increased global attention to air pollution as a health priority.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe progress and challenges in global air quality data collection.
• To highlight the importance of the WHO air quality database for public health.
• To encourage multisectoral engagement for improved air quality monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Utilized official data sources for air quality monitoring from human settlements worldwide.
• Analyzed data from the WHO's 2022 updated air quality database status report.
• Assessed data accessibility and consistency issues due to varying monitoring methods and government bodies.

Main Results:

• The WHO database expanded significantly, now including 6743 settlements, a sixfold increase since 2011.
• Over 90% of settlements in the database are from high- and middle-income countries.
• Most countries exceed the WHO's 2021 air quality guidelines.

Conclusions:

• Despite progress, air quality data collection remains uneven globally, with significant gaps in low- and middle-income countries.
• The WHO air quality database is vital for raising awareness and quantifying the health burden of air pollution.
• Policy actions to reduce air pollution are crucial for mitigating health impacts, even if they don't fully meet WHO guidelines.