Global Environmental Health and Air Pollution the World Health Organization (WHO) Recognises Ambient (Outdoor) Air Quality As a Major Environmental Risk to Health

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Global environmental health and air pollution The World Health Organization (WHO) recognises ambient (outdoor) air quality as a major environmental risk to health. Worldwide, an estimated 3.7 million premature deaths (under age 60) were found to be attributable to ambient air pollution in 2012.1

Household (indoor) air pollution is also an important global The combined effects of ambient and household air environmental health risk for an estimated 3 billion people pollution resulted in an estimated 7 million deaths globally worldwide, especially those in low and middle income among children and adults in 2012, due to respiratory and countries where biomass fuels and coal are commonly cardiovascular disease.4 This figure is not a direct addition burned for cooking and heating.2 Worldwide, an estimated of estimated deaths from ambient and household air 4.3 million deaths in 2012 were attributable to household pollution—see source 5. air pollution.3 The most affected regions are South East Asia and the 1800 low and middle income countries in the Western Pacific. However, air pollution affects people in developed and 1600 Ambient Household developing countries alike. In Australia, the focus is primarily air pollution air pollution 1400 on reducing ambient air pollution.

1200 Acute lower Chronic obstructive respiratory disease Lung cancer pulmonary disease 1000 Stroke Ischaemic heart disease 800

Number of deaths (‘000) Number of deaths 600 597,000 8% 443,100 400 6%

200 2,529,700 36% 1,187,900 17% 0 Africa South Europe Europe Eastern Eastern East Asia Americas Americas 2,296,900 High income High income High income High income 33% Mediterranean Mediterranean Western Pacific Western Western Pacific Western Low-middle income Low-middle income Low-middle income Low-middle income Low-middle

Figure 1. Global deaths attributable to ambient and Figure 2. Global deaths attributable to the combined effects household air pollution in 2012, by region1,3 of ambient and household air pollution in 2012, by disease4

Photo: Clouds over suburban area (Leanne Chow) ENV176.0815

environment.gov.au Key actions underway to ensure a Fuel Quality clean air future for Australia TheFuel Quality Standards Act 2000 provides a legislative framework for regulating the quality of fuel supplied in National Clean Air Agreement Australia, to reduce emissions that may cause environment and health problems. The legislation places an obligation on Australia’s Environment ministers are developing a National the fuel industry and fuel suppliers to supply fuel that meets Clean Air Agreement to chart a course to a clean air future. strict environmental requirements and reduces the amount The Agreement is expected to be finalised by the end of 2015. of toxic pollutants in vehicle emissions.

The Australian Government is working with states and The Australian Government has commenced a review of territories to finalise existing work streams as initial actions the Act to assess options to determine the most effective, under the Agreement: efficient and appropriate means to improve air quality, • strengthened reporting standards for particles through improved fuel quality. in the National Environment Protection Further information can be found via: www.environment. (Ambient Air Quality) Measure gov.au/protection/fuel-quality/legislation/review-2015 • a national approach to minimise emissions from non-road spark ignition engines and equipment—such Source: engines cover a wide range of petrol powered equipment 1 WHO (2014) Burden of disease from ambient air (marine outboard engines and gardening equipment) pollution for 2012. Summary of results. Available at: and can be a significant source of air pollution in some www.who.int/phe/health_topics/outdoorair/databases/ urban air sheds AAP_BoD_results_March2014.pdf • specific actions to reduce emissions from wood heaters 2 WHO (2014) Household air pollution and health. which can be significant contributors to air pollution, Fact sheet No 292. Available at: http://www.who.int/ particularly in the cooler months. mediacentre/factsheets/fs292/en/ Further information can be found via: 3 WHO (2014) Burden of disease from household air www.environment.gov.au/national-clean-air-agreement pollution for 2012. Summary of results. Available at: http://www.who.int/phe/health_topics/outdoorair/ National Environmental databases/HAP_BoD_results_March2014.pdf Science Programme 4 WHO (2014) Burden of disease from the joint effects of household and ambient air pollution for 2012. Summary The Australian Government is supporting practical and of results. Available at: www.who.int/phe/health_topics/ applied environmental research under the National outdoorair/databases/AP_jointeffect_BoD_results_ Environmental Science Programme, including $8.8 million March2014.pdf in funding for the Clean Air and Urban Landscapes Hub. 5 This figure is indicative only and is not a direct This Hub will focus on increasing our understanding of the addition of the total deaths attributable to ambient and environmental and social impacts of air pollution in urban household air pollution due to limitations in assigning and peri-urban areas. sources to individual exposures—see source 4 for Further information can be found via: further information. www.environment.gov.au/science/nesp

This fact sheet is licensed by Commonwealth of Australia under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia licence. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian Government or the Minister for the Environment.

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