In many cities, air pollution is reaching levels that
threaten people's health, according to a new compilation of air quality data from
World Health Organization (WHO). WHO gathered data from nearly 1,100
cities across 91 countries, including capital cities and cities with more than
100 000 residents. WHO estimates more than 2 million people die every year from
breathing in tiny particles present in indoor and outdoor air pollution. In
both developed and developing countries, the largest contributors to urban outdoor
air pollution include motor transport, small-scale manufacturers and other
industries, burning of biomass and coal for cooking and heating, as well as
coal-fired power plants, WHO says, adding that residential wood and coal
burning for space heating is an important contributor to air pollution,
especially in rural areas during colder months. The agency is calling for
greater awareness of health risks caused by urban air pollution, implementation
of effective policies and closer monitoring. View
the data and related information here.
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