Particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide: Almost everyone breathes bad air

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost all of humanity is exposed to high levels of pollutants in the air.

An estimated 99 percent of the world's population breathes air that exceeds WHO limits for particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide, the organization said in a report on Monday.

The model is based on measurements from 6,000 cities in 117 countries and data collected from satellites.

More than seven million people around the world die every year as a result of air pollution, said Maria Neira, Director of the WHO Division for Public Health and the Environment.

Particulate matter can penetrate the lungs and blood, impair the respiratory tract, damage the cardiovascular system and lead to strokes, for example.

Nitrogen dioxide is mainly produced in internal combustion engines of vehicles.

The gas is also associated with breathing problems.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke of the "urgent need to reduce global dependence on fossil fuels much faster".

Among other things, the health organization called for subsidies for switching to clean energy in private households.

According to the WHO, smoke from stoves and fireplaces is a major factor in global air pollution.

In addition, according to the WHO, measures should be taken for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport.

According to the air quality report, there are big differences between richer and poorer regions.

In high-income countries, 17 percent of cities meet WHO guidelines for particulate matter.

In low- and middle-income countries, it's only 1 percent of cities.

The air is worst in the eastern Mediterranean, in Southeast Asia and in Africa.

In its last report four years ago, the WHO stated that more than 90 percent of the world's population suffer from air pollution.

Since then, however, it has tightened its limits.

In the past year, air pollution had briefly decreased due to the corona lockdowns and the travel restrictions imposed by the pandemic.

The WHO warned that the fundamental problem remained.

"After surviving a pandemic, it is unacceptable to still have seven million preventable deaths and countless avoidable years of good health lost due to air pollution," said WHO environmentalist Maria Neira.