Environment, climate change and health (ECH)

for actors guiding policy change and for practitioners

Module 2: Air pollution. Water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH). Climate change.

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Course outline

Module 1. Introduction to ECH.

Module 2. Air pollution. Water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH). Climate change.

Module 3. Chemicals. Radiation. Solid waste.

Module 4. Environmental noise. Nature, biodiversity and health. Safe and healthy food. Transport,
mobility and physical activity.

Module 5. Priority settings for actions: occupational & workplace health; cities/urban settlements;
health care facilities.

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Module 2 learning objectives

This module addresses the most important exposures, health impacts and actions,
interventions and policies on the following topics:
• Ambient and household air pollution
• Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
• Climate change.

By the end of the module, you will:

− explain sources of exposure and the health risks posed by air pollution, inadequate WASH and
climate change;

− describe what types of interventions can be implemented to address these health risks; and

− refer to detailed resources on designing and implementing the interventions.

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Air pollution

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 Air pollution - Exposure

99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds WHO air quality guidelines.

Main human-related sources of exposure:

Ambient air pollution:

• Transport systems including road transport, shipping
and aviation
• Power generation
• Industry
• Waste management including waste burning
• Agriculture and forestry.

Household air pollution:

• Combustion of polluting fuels (i.e., coal and kerosene)
• Use of inefficient biomass stoves
• Tobacco smoking
• Dampness and mould (indoor air pollutant only).
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Source: https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/theme-details/GHO/air-pollution
 Air pollution - Pollutants

Important air pollutants (in terms of health effect):

• Particulate matter (e.g. PM10 or PM2.5)
• Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
• Ozone (O3)
• Sulphur dioxide (SO2)
• Carbon monoxide (CO).

Source: https://www.who.int/teams/environment-climate-change-and-health/air-quality-and-health/health-impacts/types-of-pollutants 6
 Air pollution - Health impacts
Closely related to climate change which causes many more health impacts

Air pollution - both ambient and household - is the most important environmental risk factor and
causes about 7 million deaths each year.

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 33%*

• Ischaemic heart disease, 31%
• Stroke, 25%
• Lung cancer, 20%
• Acute respiratory infections, 43%.

*The percentages indicates the proportion of disease that is due to air pollution (ambient and household air pollution combined).
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Source: WHO Global Health Observatory 2022, estimates for the year 2019
 Air pollution -
WHO air quality guidelines (AQG)

Pollutant Averaging 2005 AQG 2021 AQG

time level level
PM2.5, µg/m3 Annual 10 5
Recommended
2021 AQG levels 24-hour 25 15
compared to PM10, µg/m3 Annual 20 15
2005 AQG 24-hour 50 45
O3, µg/m3 Peak - 60
season
8-hour 100 100
Recommended levels are considered NO2, µg/m3 Annual 40 10
protective for health. Research
suggests that no level of air 24-hour - 25
pollution can be established that SO2, µg/m3 24-hour 20 40
has no adverse health effects.
CO, µg/m3 24-hour - 4
Source: WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines 2021 8
 Air pollution – Actions for health (1)

Selected actions and policies for reducing air pollution:

✓ Adopt or revise and implement national air quality standards according to the WHO Air Quality
Guidelines 2021.
✓ Monitor air quality and identify sources of air pollution.
✓ Introduce clean technologies to reduce emissions, for example in industry.
✓ Support the transition to exclusive use of clean household energy for cooking, heating and
lighting.
✓ Build safe and affordable public transport systems, including mass transit over long distances,
and pedestrian- and cycle-friendly transport networks.

Further guidance on
air pollution & health
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action
 Air pollution - Actions for health (2)
WHO / Christopher Black

Selected actions and policies for reducing air pollution:

✓ Implement stricter vehicle emissions and efficiency
standards and enforce mandatory inspection and
maintenance for vehicles.
✓ Invest in energy-efficient housing.
✓ Improve industrial, municipal and agricultural waste
management.
✓ Conduct public awareness campaigns on the health
effects of air pollution.
✓ Include air pollution in curricula for health
professionals.

Further guidance on
air pollution & health
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action
 Air pollution - Actions for health (3)

Selected actions and policies for reducing air pollution:

✓ Invest in renewable energies.
✓ Transition away from fossil fuel combustion.
✓ Phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.
✓ Increase reliance on the co-generation of heat and power, and distributed energy
generation (e.g., rooftop solar power generation).

Further guidance on
air pollution & health
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action
 Air pollution - Further resources

✓ Compendium of WHO and other UN guidance on health and environments, air pollution section
✓ WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines 2021
✓ WHO EURO 2017: Evolution of WHO air quality guidelines: past, present and future.
✓ WHO’s Household Energy Assessment Rapid Tool (HEART)
✓ WHO’s Clean Household Energy Solutions Toolkit (CHEST)
✓ WHO's Benefits of Action to Reduce Household Air Pollution (BAR-HAP) Tool
✓ Health and Energy Platform of Action (HEPA)
✓ WHO EURO's AirQ+: software tool for health risk assessment of air pollution
✓ HEPA: Accelerating access to clean cooking
✓ WHO health topic: air pollution (links to many resources)
✓ WHO Team: Air quality and health (links to many resources)
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Thank you!
Please check the resources.

Photo credits

Shutterstock / 24Novembers slide 5

WHO / Diego Rodriguez slide 6
Shutterstock / Wazzkii slide 7
WHO / Christopher Black slide 10