In a majority of cities worldwide, air quality is not up to World Health Organization (WHO) standards, creating several health concerns for its citizens.
In a news release Wednesday, WHO reported 12 percent of people living in cities that comply with their quality guidelines actually breathe clean air. WHO's database includes 1,600 cities in 91 countries, up 500 from the last time the database updated in 2011.
About half the world's urban cities have air quality at least 2.5 times more severe than the WHO recommends. Poor air quality can cause or exacerbate health issues like heart disease and respiratory problems.
"Too many urban centres today are so enveloped in dirty air that their skylines are invisible," Dr. Flavia Bustreo, WHO assistant director-general for family, children and women's health, said in the release. "Not surprisingly, this air is dangerous to breathe. So a growing number of cities and communities worldwide are striving to better meet the needs of their residents - in particular children and the elderly."
For the first time this year, NBC Bay Area reported, the district has its first unhealthy ozone warning. Bay Area Air Quality Management District spokesman Aaron Richardson said heat, auto exhaust and low winds react with sunlight will contribute to what is better known as "smog." He said the general public has been encouraged to complete any outdoor activity as early in the day as possible, since that is when ozone levels are lowest.
"It looks like we might have several more in a row," Richardson told NBC Bay Area.
As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has already made known, the world is feeling the effects of global warming right now. Like the IPCC, WHO recommends world leaders create policies as soon as possible to help curb the adverse effects of climate change.
"We can win the fight against air pollution and reduce the number of people suffering from respiratory and heart disease, as well as lung cancer," Dr. Maria Neira, WHO director for public health, environmental and social determinants of health, said in the release. "Effective policies and strategies are well understood, but they need to be implemented at sufficient scale. Cities such as Copenhagen and Bogotà, for example, have improved air quality by promoting 'active transport' and prioritizing dedicated networks of urban public transport, walking and cycling."
