Over 80% of lives could be saved if the new WHO air quality guidelines targets are met.

Last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) tightened its global air quality guidelines in its first revision since 2005. Under the guidelines, the organisation announced more stringent limits for six pollutant categories — particulate matter (PM), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO). It hopes to spur countries toward clean energy and prevent deaths and illnesses caused by air pollution through tightened guidelines.

Engineer Bainomugisha, the Project Lead at AirQO noted that the revised guidelines are timely given the increasing evidence on the air pollution effects on health.

“The guidelines provide a global framework for all sectors to join forces to reduce air pollution and save lives. We all know that tackling air pollution will result in a significant reduction of millions of lives that are lost due to exposure to dangerous levels of air pollution.”

“These guidelines provide a framework for organisations like AirQo to track and demonstrate air pollution risks to public health in African countries. By providing evidence on the air pollution profiles of African cities, actions to improve air quality can be triggered, for example, public education and awareness, air quality policies and standards, and stakeholder engagement.” Mr Bainomugisha said.

However, measuring air quality in Africa is still a challenge as most cities in the continent do not have the means to do so due to the high costs involved. AirQo has deployed close to 100 monitors in various cities across Uganda to help combat air pollution.

“African countries must begin to act to reduce air pollution for better health and economic outcomes. The new guidelines target levels will be challenging to attain in a short term however, the interim targets provide a realistic stepwise approach to achieving the new guidelines.”

Globally, air pollution contributes to over 7 million premature deaths annually. In Uganda, ambient air quality levels in monitored urban centres are estimated to be over 5 times the WHO’s annual guidelines with over 30,000 people dying annually due to air pollution-related illnesses.

“Uganda and other African countries need to contextualise the guidelines and formulate policies and standards for improving air quality across the continent. Over 80% of the lives could be saved if the new targets are met.”

“These guidelines need to be contextualised further by individual countries and continents taking into account unique air pollution exposure risks and sources. Measured air pollution levels in many African countries are known to be higher than the old WHO targets so the new guidelines do not make the task any easier.”