The Global Health Observatory
Explore a world of health data
From smog hanging over cities to smoke inside the home, air pollution poses a major threat to health across the globe. Almost all of the global population (99%) are exposed to air pollution levels that put them at increased risk for diseases including heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer and pneumonia. WHO monitors the exposure levels and health impacts (i.e. deaths, DALYs) of air pollution at the national, regional and global level from ambient (outdoor) and household air pollution. Such estimates are used for official reporting like the world health statistics, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Air Pollution Data Portal
Air pollution data
Burden of disease from air pollution
Ambient air pollution exposure
Interactive tools and resources
AirQ+tool
AirQ+ performs calculations that allow quantification of the health effects of exposure to air pollution, including estimates of the reduction in life expectancy
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Visualization of national air quality standards
Interactive map shows the presence of air quality standards in countries around the world for different pollutants
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Clean Household Energy Solutions Toolkit (CHEST)
Contains tools and resources for countries to develop clean household energy policies and programmes
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Household Multiple Emission Sources Model (HOMES)
Web model that predicts indoor concentrations and personal exposures of air pollutants from cooking, heating or lighting
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Benefits of action to reduce household air pollution (BAR-HAP) tool
Planning tool that calculates the costs and benefits of transitions to cleaner household energy
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Performance Target (PT) Model
The PT model calculates the emission rates required for stoves, heaters, or lamps to achieve specific air quality and health targets.
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Publications
22 September 2021
WHO global air quality guidelines: particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur...
Clean air is fundamental to health. Compared to 15 years ago, when the previous edition of these guidelines was published, there is now a much stronger...
22 September 2021
WHO global air quality guidelines: particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur...
Clean air is fundamental to health. Compared to 15 years ago, when the previous edition of these guidelines was published, there is now a much stronger...
4 September 2020
Personal interventions and risk communication on Air Pollution
This report presents the results of an expert consultation whose objectives were to review and assess the current scientific evidence on questions related...
This report presents a summary of methods and results of the latest WHO global assessment of ambient air pollution exposure and the resulting burden of...
21 January 2014
WHO Guidelines for indoor air quality: Household fuel combustion
In 2014, WHO issued the first-ever health-based guidelines on clean fuels and technologies for household cooking, heating and lighting. These guidelines...
Related health topic
Contact us
For general inquiries: aqh_who@who.int
Regarding clean and polluting household energy use or household air pollution: householdenergy@who.int
Regarding data or resources related to SDG 7 on energy access and health: sdg7@who.int