The Global Health Observatory

Explore a world of health data

 

From smog hanging over cities to smoke inside the home, air pollution poses a major threat to health across the globe.  Almost all of the global population (99%) are exposed to air pollution levels that put them at increased risk for diseases including heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer and pneumonia.  WHO monitors the exposure  levels and health impacts (i.e. deaths, DALYs) of air pollution at the national, regional and global level from ambient (outdoor) and household air pollution. Such estimates are used for official reporting like the world health statistics, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

 

Interactive tools and resources

Understanding Air Pollution

AirQ+tool

AirQ+ performs calculations that allow quantification of the health effects of exposure to air pollution, including estimates of the reduction in life expectancy
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Visualization of Standards

Visualization of national air quality standards

Interactive map shows the presence of air quality standards in countries around the world for different pollutants
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CHEST

Clean Household Energy Solutions Toolkit (CHEST)

Contains tools and resources for countries to develop clean household energy policies and programmes
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HOMES

Household Multiple Emission Sources Model (HOMES)

Web model that predicts indoor concentrations and personal exposures of air pollutants from cooking, heating or lighting
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Old Electric Stove

Benefits of action to reduce household air pollution (BAR-HAP) tool

Planning tool that calculates the costs and benefits of transitions to cleaner household energy
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PT Model

Performance Target (PT) Model

The PT model calculates the emission rates required for stoves, heaters, or lamps to achieve specific air quality and health targets.
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Publications

Sustainable development goal indicator 3.9.1: mortality attributed to air pollution

In 2019, air pollution – both ambient and household – was the largest environmental risk to health, carrying responsibility for about one...

WHO global air quality guidelines: particulate matter (‎PM2.5 and PM10)‎, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide

Clean air is fundamental to health. Compared to 15 years ago, when the previous edition of these guidelines was published, there is now a much stronger...

WHO global air quality guidelines: particulate matter (‎PM2.5 and PM10)‎, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide: executive summary

Clean air is fundamental to health. Compared to 15 years ago, when the previous edition of these guidelines was published, there is now a much stronger...

Personal interventions and risk communication on Air Pollution

This report presents the results of an expert consultation whose objectives were to review and assess the current scientific evidence on questions related...

Ambient air pollution: A global assessment of exposure and burden of disease

This report presents a summary of methods and results of the latest WHO global assessment of ambient air pollution exposure and the resulting burden of...

WHO Guidelines for indoor air quality: Household fuel combustion

In 2014, WHO issued the first-ever health-based guidelines on clean fuels and technologies for household cooking, heating and lighting. These guidelines...

Contact us

For general inquiries: aqh_who@who.int 

Regarding clean and polluting household energy use or household air pollution: householdenergy@who.int

Regarding data or resources related to SDG 7 on energy access and health: sdg7@who.int

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