Category: Air Quality

Air pollution now ranks as the second leading risk factor for death, accounting for 8.1 million deaths globally according to HEI’s new State of Global Air 2024 Report. The new report provides a comprehensive analysis of data for air quality and health impacts for countries around the world in 2021. Of the total deaths, noncommunicable diseases account for up to 90% of the disease burden from air pollution, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Nearly every person on earth breathes unhealthy levels of air pollution every day, with far-reaching health implications, according to the report. For the first time, this year’s report includes exposure levels and related health effects of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). Traffic exhaust is a major source of NO_2, which means densely populated urban areas, particularly in high-income countries, often see the highest levels of NO₂exposures and health impacts.

In 2021, long-term exposure to ozone contributed to an estimated 489,000 deaths globally, including 14,000 ozone-related COPD deaths in the United States, higher than other high-income countries. As the world continues to warm from the effects of climate change, areas with high levels of NO₂ can expect to see higher levels of ozone, bringing even greater health effects.

Newborns and children under five years old are especially susceptible, with health effects that include premature birth, low birth weight, delayed brain development, asthma, lung diseases, and childhood cancers. In 2021, exposure to air pollution was linked to more than 700,000 deaths in children under five years; 500,000 of these deaths were linked to household air pollution, primarily in South Asia and Africa.

Key findings in the report include:

• Air pollution is now the #2 risk factor for death globally, resulting in 8.1 million deaths in 2021.
• Air pollution is now #2 in global risk factor for death for children under 5 years old, following malnutrition, accounting for 709,000 deaths worldwide.
• As many as 70% of these deaths to children under five years old come from exposure to household air pollution in Africa and Asia, typically from burning solid fuels for cooking.
• Good news: Since 2000, there has been a 36% drop in household air pollution deaths globally. 

The EPA’s Enhanced Air Sensor Guidebook

Recognizing the ever-increasing availability of sensors, expanding scientific knowledge, and availability of best practices to support sensor use, the U.S. EPA significantly updated the 2014 Guidebook. The refreshed version, The Enhanced Air Sensor Guidebook, includes updated content and new topics that incorporate best practices, current knowledge, and recommendations on sensors.

The goal of the enhanced Guidebook is to support users in planning and collecting air quality measurements using air sensors. This Guidebook can help sensor users:

• • Learn the basics of air quality, air pollution monitoring, and air sensors
  • Plan and conduct an air quality monitoring study
  • Select, setup, and use air sensors
  • Analyze, interpret, communicate, and act on results
  • Understand the basics of air sensor performance

The enhanced Guidebook also contains expanded resources and content in the Appendices including: 1) General resources (e.g., air quality information, air sensor performance, data analysis tools), 2) a list of ‘Questions to Consider when Planning, Collecting, and Sharing Your Data’ to prepare sensor users for questions to expect from others, 3) Checklists for quickly determining how to select sensors, items to look for in a user manual, and maintaining air sensors, 4) information on data handling and the Air Quality Index, 5) education on Interpreting Sensor Performance Evaluation Results, and 6) a glossary of terms used in the guidebook.

Zero Pollution: EC proposes rules for cleaner air and water

On 26 October, the European Commission proposed stronger rules against pollution through revision of the Ambient Air Quality Directives, the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and the list of controlled surface and groundwater pollutants.

Clean air and water are essential for the health of people and ecosystems. Air pollution alone means nearly 300,000 Europeans die prematurely each year, and the proposed new rules will reduce deaths resulting from levels of the main pollutant PM2.5 above World Health Organization guidelines by more than 75% in 10 years. 

A brief reminder of the importance of the International Telecommunication Union and its standardization process to make cities not only smart and sustainable, but simply a better place to live. 

Sparrow Analytics SA #sustainable #analytics #u4ssc, as an associate member leading its own standard, aims to give cities the most flexible and easy way to innovate. 

More importantly, to measure what needs to be managed! The standard will be implemented in Q1 2023. Prepare your city for an eye-opening process. Contact us for more information.