Published: 27th Sep, 2021
Context
The World Health Organization has cut its recommended limits for air pollution, for the first time since 2005.
Key highlights
- The new recommendations targeting pollutants including particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide, both of which are found in fossil fuel emissions.
- NO2: The new limit for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), mainly produced by diesel engines, is now 75% lower.
- PM 2.5: Under the new guidelines, the WHO halved the recommended limit for average annual PM2.5 level from 10 micrograms per cubic meter to 5.
- PM 10: It also lowered the recommended limit for PM10 from 20 micrograms to 15.
- These guidelines not legally-binding.
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WHO’s 2005 guideline
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Air pollution, the greatest environmental threat
- Air pollution kills at least 7 million people prematurely each year.
- In 2019, a full 90% of the global population was breathing air considered unhealthy by the 2005 guidelines.
- India, still have national standards that are looser than those 2005 recommendations.
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NAAQS India last revised its National Ambient Air Quality Standards in 2009 —setting annual averages for
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About the Organization
- Founded in 1948, WHO is the United Nations agency.
- It connects nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so that everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health.
- Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
- India is a member state of the South East Asia Region at the WHO.
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