NERAM V, Vancouver, 16-18 October 2006NERAM V, Vancouver, 16-18 October 2006

Dr. Michal KrzyzanowskiDr. Michal KrzyzanowskiRegional Adviser, Air Quality and HealthRegional Adviser, Air Quality and Health

WHO Regional Office for EuropeWHO Regional Office for Europe

European Centre for Environment and Health, Bonn OfficeEuropean Centre for Environment and Health, Bonn Office

http://www.euro.who.int/airhttp://www.euro.who.int/air

Science and policy Science and policy for global for global

air quality managementair quality management

This presentation:This presentation:

• Science: WHO Air Quality Guidelines Update;

• Policy: European (and global) perspectives.

WHO Air Quality Guidelines: 20 years traditionWHO Air Quality Guidelines: 20 years tradition

• Air Quality Guidelines for Europe, 1987• Air Quality Guidelines for Europe, 2nd edition, 2000

http://www.euro.who.int/air/activities/20050223_3

• Assessment of health aspects of air pollution in Europe, EC funded project 2003-5:

– update of AQG for PM, O3 & NO2 recommended

AQG Update: WHO Working Group Meeting, October 2005AQG Update: WHO Working Group Meeting, October 2005

WHO AQG: Global update: WHO AQG: Global update: Particulate matter: health effectsParticulate matter: health effects

• Consistent evidence on health effects of PM from cities in various regions of the world (both developed and developing countries);

• Broad range of health effects (on respiratory and CV system);

• Both children and adults are affected;

• Adverse effects of PM after both short-term and long-term exposures;

• No evidence to suggest a threshold – effects found even at PM concentrations close to a background;

WHO AQG: Global update: WHO AQG: Global update: Particulate matterParticulate matter

Recommended Guidelines

PM2.5: 10 g/m3 annual mean 25 g/m3 24-hour mean

PM10: 20 g/m3 annual mean 50 g/m3 24-hour mean

WHO AQG: Global update: WHO AQG: Global update: Particulate matter: rationale for the guideline valueParticulate matter: rationale for the guideline value

• Robust associations between PM2.5 and mortality in several studies with PM2.5 in the range 9-33 μg/m3;

• No apparent thresholds but statistical uncertainty at PM2.5 below 13 μg/m3;

• Annual mean of 10 μg/m3 should be below the mean for most likely effects;

• Although adverse effects on health cannot be entirely ruled out below 10 μg/m3, its attainment is expected to significantly reduce the health risks;

• AQG and IT-s for PM10 recommended in addition to PM2.5 guidelines in recognition of harmul effects of coarse PM (fraction between 2.5 and 10 μm).

WHO AQG: Global update: WHO AQG: Global update: Particulate matter - annual meanParticulate matter - annual mean

Annual mean level

PM10

(µg/m3)

PM2.5

(µg/m3)

Basis for the selected level

Interim target-1 (IT-1)

70 35 Levels associated with about 15% higher long-term mortality than at AQG

Interim target-2 (IT-2)

50 25 Risk of premature mortality decreased by approximately 6% compared to IT1

Interim target-3 (IT-3)

30 15 Mortality risk reduced by approximately 6% compared to IT2 levels.

Air quality guideline (AQG)

20 10 Lowest levels at which total, CP and LCA mortality have been shown to increase (Pope et al., 2002). The use of PM2.5 guideline

is preferred.

WHO AQG: Global update: WHO AQG: Global update: Summary of updated AQG valuesSummary of updated AQG values

Pollutant Averaging time AQG value

Particulate matter PM2.5

PM10

1 year24 hour (99th percentile)

1 year24 hour (99th percentile)

10 µg/m3 25 µg/m3

20 µg/m3

50 µg/m3

Ozone, O3 8 hour, daily maximum 100 µg/m3

Nitrogen dioxide, NO2 1 year1 hour

40 µg/m3 200 µg/m3

Sulfur dioxide, SO2 24 hour10 minute

20 µg/m3 500 µg/m3

AQG levels recommended to be achieved everywhere in order to significantly reduce the adverse health effects of pollution

Policy: Policy: Launch of the AQG Global UpdateLaunch of the AQG Global UpdateWHO HQ, Geneva, 5 October 2006 WHO HQ, Geneva, 5 October 2006

INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE : WHO CALLS FOR IMPROVED AIR QUALITY, SAYS POLLUTION KILLS 2 MILLION PEOPLE EACH YEAR The Associated Press THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2006

MAIL & GUARDIAN : WHO CALLS FOR IMPROVED AIR QUALITY05 October 2006 09:13Teresa Cerojano | Manila, Philippines

FINANCIAL TIMES : HEALTH RISK OF AIR POLLUTION IS GLOBAL BURDEN, SAYS WHOBy Frances Williams in Geneva Last updated: October 6 2006 03:00The World Health Organisation yesterday launched stringent guidelines for air pollution that it said could cut pollution-related deaths in the dirtiest cities by as much as a sixth.

Turning science into policy objectivesTurning science into policy objectives

RPG 3. to prevent and reduce respiratory disease due to outdoor and indoor air pollution, thereby contributing to a reduction in the frequency of asthmatic attacks in order to ensure that children can live in an environment with clean air

4th Ministerial Conference on Health and Environment, Budapest, June 2004

Children Health and Environment Action Plan for Europe

Regional Priority Goal 3 (of 4)

Turning science into policy objectivesTurning science into policy objectives

The Community’s Sixth Environmental Action Programme (6th EAP) called for the development of a thematic strategy on air pollution with the objective to attain

“levels of air quality that do not give rise to significant negative impacts on, and risks to human health and the environment”.

Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution: Council Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution: Council conclusions, 9 March 2006conclusions, 9 March 2006

2. WELCOMES the Commission’s Communication on a Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution asan important and well-founded analysis based inter alia on state of the art scientific advice,developed by the World Health Organisation … and CONSIDERS this Communication to be a direct response to the request made in the Sixth Environmental Action Programme;

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/cafe/pdf/council_concl_them_strategy.pdf

… ACKNOWLEDGES that, even with effective implementation of current policies, there will remain very significant adverse impacts on human health and the environment from air pollution in 2020 and IS CONVINCED that the magnitude of these impacts is such that additional action must be taken to combat air pollution in the EU;

Issues in formulating air quality policy and actionIssues in formulating air quality policy and action

• Effects even at low pollution levels

• Variety of pollution sources

• Significant contribution of disperse sources

• Contribution of local and remote sources of pollution to exposure

Policy must involve various economic sectors and be implemented at local, regional and international levels,

Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution: Council Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution: Council conclusions, 9 March 2006conclusions, 9 March 2006

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/cafe/pdf/council_concl_them_strategy.pdf

… RECOGNIZES that a mix of national, Community, and international measures will be required to deliver those objectives in a cost-effective way and CALLS for better integration of air pollution issues into agricultural, energy and transport policies both at Community leveland at national level;

Transport related factors affecting Transport related factors affecting healthhealth

Explore synergy of AQ policy with other actions to reduce sector-specific health effects

Turning science and policy into regulations

COM (2005) 447: Proposal for a directive COM (2005) 447: Proposal for a directive (Annex XIV: PM2.5)(Annex XIV: PM2.5)

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/cafe/pdf/com_2005_447_en.pdf

WHO AQG: 10 μg/m3

Annual average PM10 concentrations observed in Annual average PM10 concentrations observed in selected cities worldwideselected cities worldwide

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Annual average PM10 concentrations (µg/m3)

AQG level

PM10 concentration in selected cities of Asia PM10 concentration in selected cities of Asia (annual mean 2005)(annual mean 2005)

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WHO 2005 Guideline Value for Annual Average of PM10 = 20 µg/m3

Source: C. Huizenga, CAI-Asia

PM10 concentration in selected cities of Asia PM10 concentration in selected cities of Asia (annual mean 2005)(annual mean 2005)

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WHO AQG: Interim Target 3 = 30 µg/m3

Source: C. Huizenga, CAI-Asia

PM10 concentration in selected cities of Asia PM10 concentration in selected cities of Asia (annual mean 2005)(annual mean 2005)

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WHO AQG: Interim Target 2 = 50 µg/m3

Source: C. Huizenga, CAI-Asia

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WHO AQG: Interim Target 1 = 70 µg/m3

Source: C. Huizenga, CAI-Asia

Science and policy for global air quality management:Science and policy for global air quality management: ConclusionsConclusions

• Science review – essential part of the policy making; Substantial part of it can be done globally;

• Policy objectives needed for effective action on a local and international levels;

• Feasibility and acceptance of actions needed to achieve the objectives are strong determinant of the decisions and regulatory actions; • Air pollution, and ist health effects, is a global problem. Its solution may require diverse management approaches, best fitted to the conditions in various regions. Thank YouThank You