Almost everyone breathes unhealthy air, WHO reveals

A shocking new report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed that 99% of the global population is inhaling unhealthy air.According to an air quality report, billions of people worldwide breathe polluted air.The report, which covers more than 6 000 cities and 117 countries - including Namibia, indicates where air pollution levels and related health risks are the highest.“Almost the entire global population (99%) breathes air that exceeds WHO air quality limits and threatens their health,” the organisation said.It added that a record number of more than 6 000 cities are now monitoring air quality, but the people living in them are still breathing unhealthy levels of fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide, with people in low and middle-income countries suffering the highest exposures.The findings have prompted the WHO to highlight the importance of curbing fossil fuels and taking tangible steps to reduce air pollution levels.The WHO further said the evidence base for the damage air pollution does to the human body has been growing rapidly, and points to significant harm caused by even low levels of many air pollutants.Particulate matter is capable of penetrating deep into the lungs and entering the bloodstream, causing cardiovascular, cerebrovascular (stroke) and respiratory impacts, it said.“There is emerging evidence that particulate matter impacts other organs and causes other diseases as well.”Guidelines revisedFurthermore, nitrogen dioxide is associated with respiratory diseases, particularly asthma, leading to respiratory symptoms such as coughing, wheezing or difficulty breathing, hospital admissions and visits to emergency rooms, according to the WHO.The health organisation last year revised its air quality guidelines, making them more stringent in an effort to help countries better evaluate the healthiness of their own air.“Current energy concerns highlight the importance of speeding up the transition to cleaner, healthier energy systems,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general.“High fossil fuel prices, energy security and the urgency of addressing the twin health challenges of air pollution and climate change underscore the pressing need to move faster towards a world that is much less dependent on fossil fuels.”

Almost everyone breathes unhealthy air, WHO reveals

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Namibian Sun 2022-07-06

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Almost everyone breathes unhealthy air, WHO reveals

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Namibian Sun 2022-07-06

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