Nagpur: For the first time in 15 years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has revised its global air quality guidelines aimed at saving millions of lives throughout the world and combat climate change.
Connect about 7 million pre-mature deaths every year for drinking and household air pollution, which has recommended the level of new air quality to protect the health of the population by reducing the main air pollutants, some of which also contribute to climate change.
Who said there was an increase in evidence that showed air pollution affecting various health aspects.
After a systematic review of the accumulation of evidence, which has “adjusted all air quality guidelines to the bottom.” Set the threshold for the main air pollutants, who is the recommended new guideline for air quality levels for six pollutants, where evidence has been more advanced on the health effects of exposure.
Compared to the level of 2005, the latest annual level recommended for material particles (PM) 2.5 has been halved.
Of the 10 micrograms per cubic meter (MPCM), now 5MPCM for all countries.
When it comes to 24 hour guidelines, the level has been reduced to 15 out of 25 mpcm.
In terms of PM10, the annual new level is 15 MPM against 20 MPCM before while the latest 24-hour level is 45 MPM against the previous 50 MPCM.
By stating that health risks associated with particle material are equal or smaller than 10 and 2.5 microns in diameter have the relevance of certain public health, which in the release stated, “PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ can penetrate deep into the lungs but PM₂.
₅ can even enter the bloodstream, especially leading to cardiovascular and respiratory impacts, and also affects other organs.
PM is mainly produced by burning of fuel in various sectors, including transportation, energy, household, industrial, and from agriculture.
“Apart from particles, who has also issued a revised level for poisonous greenhouse gas which has become a big culprit in increasing global warming.
Sulfur dioxide, mostly emitted from coal power plants, now must be at 40 mpcm while carbon monoxide, ozone and nitrogen dioxide must be at 4, 60 and 25 mpcm.
The organization added that air pollution is one of the biggest environmental threats to human health, along with climate change.
“Improving air quality can increase climate change mitigation efforts, while reducing emissions in turn will improve air quality.
By trying to achieve this level of guidelines, countries will protect health and mitigate global climate change,” the organization said.
Although this guide does not bind legally, nearly 80% of deaths relating to PM2.5 can be avoided in the world if the current air pollution level is reduced to being proposed in updated guidelines.
In accordance with data, more than 90% of the world population lives in areas that exceed the WHO limit.
Unfortunately, for South Asia, it’s around 100%.
According to Greenpeace, at least 79 of the 100 most polluted cities in the world violated WHO 2005 PM2.5 levels.
“In addition, last year, PM2.5 violated 2021 annual average level in all 100 largest cities in the world, in some cases, In some cases, in some cases, in some cases more than fifteen times, “Greenpeace analysis said.
Organizational researchers estimate that 57,000 pre-mature deaths in New Delhi for 2020 can be associated with air pollution.
The analysis carried out by the research center of energy and clean air (Crea) highlights that nearly 2 million lives can be saved in India every year if the WHO guidelines were previously implemented.
“It’s been more than a decade that India tells the standard of national ambient air quality in 2009 and many new evidence of the impact of different pollutants on human health at lower pollution levels has emerged, requiring the Indian government to revise the standard similar to whom Action.
The good thing is that India has worked to revise the standard, we only need to make sure we take advantage of the evidence collected by whom and others about increasing and severe health impacts from pollutants at a lower level and trying to aim more closely with whom the level Presented for pollutants, “said Sunil Dahiya, analyst at Crea.