“New WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines aim to save millions of lives from air pollution.” WHO | World Health Organization, 22 September 2021, https://www.who.int/news/item/22-09-2021-new-who-global-air-quality-guidelines-aim-to-save-millions-of-lives-from-air-pollution. Accessed 6 February 2022.

WHO, the World Health Organization has concluded that air pollution affects human health at a lower concentration than previously determined in 2005. Killing 7 million people every year, they have adjusted almost all the AQGs levels downwards to create safer breathing air people in all parts of the world, but mostly in low- and middle-income countries. This includes the pollutants particulate matter (PM), ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and carbon monoxide (CO). To reach these goals WHO has established “interim targets” to insure a gradual improvement in air quality and health. 

When reading this article I found the number of deaths per year to be overwhelming and surprising in some aspects. While I was aware that air pollution can and does affect human health, it didn’t occur to me that a majority of these deaths are premature. I identify air pollution as a contributor to the environment in the sense that it worsens the greenhouse effect, but after reading this article I understand that humans are a large part of the environment. Environmental science is the study of the environment and addressing human effects is important to that field. Having narrowed down the six pollutants, I think that moving forward organizations like WHO will be able to effectively methodize. Especially living in an area that experienced a bad air quality index during fire season, while my understanding is from small periods, when the air clears there is a sense of relief. I can’t help but feel hopeful that these current goals will be effective and improve air quality.