The statement by the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and 100+ partners highlights the broad support for the recently published World Health Organization (WHO) Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) 2021, which health experts say should be used as a guide for effective air quality and emission reduction policies around the world.

Professor Zorana J. Andersen is Chair of the European Respiratory Society Environment and Health Committee. She said: “Air pollution poses a great risk to human health; it is linked to major lung and heart diseases, diabetes, cancer, infant mortality, and emerging evidence points to harmful effects on pregnancy, cognitive development in children, dementia and mental health, as well as an increased risk of dying from COVID-19.

“As more than 95% of the world’s population is exposed to hazardous levels of air pollution every day, air pollution ranks fourth among major risk factors for global disease and mortality, and the estimated global economic cost of pollution-related health effects was US$ 5 trillion in 2013. Reducing air pollution will not only lead to enormous and immediate improvements in the health and quality of life of all citizens, but it will help to lower the medical costs borne by society for the treatment of air pollution-related diseases. Moreover, policies aimed at reducing air pollution will simultaneously reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and help mitigate the unprecedented climate change crises.

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