WHO Expert Consultation: Risk communication and intervention to reduce exposure and to minimize the health effects of air pollution

WHO Expert Consultation: Risk communication and intervention to reduce exposure and to minimize the health effects of air pollution

The two-day consultation took place on
12–14 February 2019 at WHO headquarters in Geneva. It included presentations on the current review of evidence, methods and applications, and will include significant time for discussion, identification of data gaps, research needs, and the next steps to derive expert suggestions in a consistent and harmonized approach, while providing elements of guidance in the form of specific and practical advice.

• View the Expert Consultation homepage for more information

Air pollution and health

Air pollution kills an estimated 7 million people worldwide every year. WHO data shows that 9 out of 10 people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants. WHO is working with countries to monitor air pollution and improve air quality. For more information:

• A collection of short videos

• How air pollution is destroying our health

The First WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health took place from 30 October to 1 November 2018 in Geneva

Remote participation was facilitated by webcasting and live-streaming of the sessions and is available on the conference website.
The programme (linked below) provides an overview of the sessions and topics covered during the conference.
The Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, 30 October–1 November 2018 was organized at WHO headquarters in Geneva, in collaboration with UN Environment, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC) the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), and The World Bank.

• View the conference homepage for more...

• Conference programme
  pdf, 505kb

• Conference overview agenda
  pdf, 205kb

• Spotlight on air pollution and health

A schoolboy walks through smoke and fumes emitted from a waste dump in the Nigerian city of Port Harcourt (photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images)

News release: 9 out of 10 people worldwide breathe polluted air

2 May 2018, Geneva – Air pollution levels remain at dangerously high levels in many parts of the world. New data reveals that 9 out of 10 people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants. like black carbon which penetrate deep into the lungs and cardiovascular system.
WHO estimates that around 7 million people die every year from exposure to fine particles in polluted air that lead to diseases such as stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and respiratory infections, including pneumonia.

• 9 out of 10 people worldwide breathe polluted air but more countries are taking action
• Neuf personnes sur 10 respirent un air pollué dans le monde
• WHO Ambient Air Pollution City Database (Update 2018)
  xlsx, 1.47Mb
• Social media kit
  pdf, 649kb
• Infographics (English, Chinese, French, Russian)
• FAQs
  pdf, 59kb
• Read more about the updated database

WHO/Yoshi Shimizu

Invisible killer

Air pollution is an invisible killer that lurks all around us, preying on the young and old. Learn how it slips unnoticed past our body's defenses causing deaths from heart attack, strokes, lung disease and cancer.

• Watch the video

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