The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently made headlines with its new Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs). These novel recommendations present more strict levels of pollutants deemed safe for human health, constituting the first update from WHO since 2005. The goal of these guidelines is to assist all nations in achieving healthier air quality.
Understanding the New Guidelines
The updated AQGs advocate for improved air quality levels that are designed to safeguard population health by diminishing key air pollutants, some of which are also notably climate change contributors. By striving to accomplish these guideline levels, not only will countries be securing public health, but they will also be contributing to global climate change mitigation. The approach invites governments to consider stricter standards for cleaner air. Six pollutants are featured in the WHO’s new guidelines that have significant evidence around their health impacts. These include particulate matter (PM 2.5 and 10), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO).
Impact of Air Pollution on Human Health
As per WHO, air pollution is among the leading environmental threats to human health, alongside climate change. The consequences are stark; air pollution causes an estimated seven million premature deaths annually and the loss of many more healthy years of life. The risks vary across age: children can experience stunted lung growth and function, respiratory infections, and exacerbated asthma, while adults often suffer from heart disease and stroke. Emerging evidence also suggests links to other health conditions such as diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. This places the burden of disease due to air pollution level with other significant global health risks, like poor diet and tobacco smoking.
Disparities in Air Pollution Exposure
There is a rising disparity in air pollution exposure worldwide. Low- and middle-income countries often bear the brunt due to large-scale urbanization and economic development relying largely on fossil fuel combustion.
The Situation in India
India is no stranger to the issue of air pollution; it consistently ranks among the most polluted regions globally. Several cities in the country, such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai, experience pollutant levels many times higher than recommended thresholds. The Global Burden of Disease study reveals that over 95% of India’s population resides in areas where pollution levels exceed the WHO’s 2005 standards. India’s own air quality guidelines seem lenient even in comparison to these figures.
The Implications of New Guidelines for India
With the implementation of the new guidelines, most of India would be classified as a polluted zone for much of the year. However, WHO admits that more than 90% of the world’s population already lives in areas falling short of its 2005 pollution norms. Although these standards are not binding, they should serve as a nudge for India to intensify efforts toward cleaner air. Notwithstanding this, implementing these guidelines might be challenging in certain geo-climatic zones like south Asia, including India, given their unique meteorological, climatic, and pollution conditions.
India’s National Clean Air Programme
Despite the challenges, India has a dedicated National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) that aims for a 20%-30% reduction in particulate matter concentrations by 2024 across 122 cities, using 2017 as the base year for comparison.
The Way Forward
Given India’s pollution crisis, it is critical to strengthen health data and revise national ambient air quality standards accordingly. The pandemic-induced lockdown phases have shown the dramatic reduction possible when local pollution and regional influences are minimized. Therefore, transformative, long-term strategies are required to maintain such improvements beyond exceptional circumstances.
