WHO: "99% of Humanity Breathes Polluted Air"... Air Quality Worsens Despite COVID-19 Pandemic

Air Quality in Middle- and Low-Income Countries Worse Than in Developed Nations

On the 11th, as the daytime temperature in Seoul rose to 17 degrees Celsius, bringing warm weather comparable to April, fine dust was observed in the city center viewed from Namsan, Jung-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Asia Economy

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] It has been revealed that 99% of the world's population breathes air polluted below health standards. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, air quality has worsened, and only 1% of humanity breathes air that meets WHO standards.

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced this on the 4th (local time) after analyzing air quality in over 6,000 cities across 117 countries worldwide.

According to WHO's announcement, 99% of the global population breathes air exceeding pollution limits, inhaling particle-laden air that poses risks of penetrating the lungs and blood vessels. WHO specifically pointed out that air quality is poor in Southeast Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean, and Africa.

The previous survey was conducted four years ago in 2018, when 90% of humanity was breathing polluted air. The COVID-19 pandemic began the following winter, and in March 2020, WHO declared it a pandemic. Although factory operations and the movement of ships and aircraft decreased over the past three years, air quality did not improve.

However, this survey measured concentrations of particulate matter (PM-10), fine particulate matter (PM-2.5), and nitrogen dioxide for the first time. Due to the expanded measurement targets by WHO, the proportion of people breathing polluted air may have increased by 9 percentage points compared to four years ago.

Nitrogen dioxide is emitted during the combustion of automobile fuel. WHO pointed out that nitrogen dioxide "causes respiratory diseases, coughing, and symptoms of breathing difficulties when it enters the human body."

The environment of breathing polluted air is concentrated relatively in less developed countries. Only 17% of high-income countries showed air quality that did not meet WHO's particulate matter and fine particulate matter standards. In contrast, 99% of air quality in middle- and low-income countries failed to meet the standards.

Meanwhile, as of 9 PM on the 5th, the concentration of particulate matter and fine particulate matter in South Korea is at a 'moderate' level. However, fine particulate matter concentrations are forecasted to be at a 'bad' level in most regions nationwide on the 6th, except for Jeonnam, Gyeongnam, and Jeju.

The Ministry of Environment implements a seasonal particulate matter management system every winter to attempt to improve air quality. The third seasonal particulate matter management system, conducted from December 1 last year to the 31st of last month, showed improvement effects.

The Ministry of Environment explained, "The average nationwide concentration of fine particulate matter over the four months last winter was 23.3 mg/㎥, which is lower than the same period between 2019 and 2020 (average concentration 24.5 mg/㎥) when the first seasonal particulate matter management system was implemented."

During the same period, the number of days with 'good' fine particulate matter concentration (15 mg/㎥ or less) was 40 days, 12 days more than two years ago (a total of 28 days). The number of days with 'bad' fine particulate matter concentration (36?75 mg/㎥) was 18 days, four days fewer than two years ago (22 days).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.