Air pollution, both indoors and outdoors, is a major environmental health problem affecting everyone in developed and developing countries alike. The 2005 WHO Air quality guidelines (AQGs) are designed to offer global guidance on reducing the health impacts of air pollution. The guidelines first produced in 19871 and updated in 19972 had a European scope. The new (2005) guidelines apply worldwide and are based on expert evaluation of current scientific evidence. They recommend revised limits for the concentration of selected air pollutants: particulate matter (PM), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2), applicable across all WHO regions.
Key facts
Hazardous Air Quality Forces Beijing Residents Indoors
Enormous clouds of pollution cover skies in Beijing, China, now deemed the Air-Pocalypse.
Beijing's air quality plummets again
A thick grey pall hangs over Beijing's Tiananmen Square on Monday, blocking out much of the sunlight.
Air pollution in China
Thick air pollution fog blankets Chinese capital
Beijing residents are reaching for their face masks
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Morgan Rider is an environmental engineer with over 20 years experience helping public and private sector organizations manage environmental impacts, risks and costs. She worked with companies such as BMW North America, Xerox, Sutter Home Wines, Nike, LSI Logic and Ball Aerospace helping to develop and implement strategies and programs to reduce their environmental footprint.
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Dena New is an International Master of Business Administration (IMBA) candidate at Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver. Focusing her studies on finance and sustainability, she is passionate about the use of sustainable business practices in conserving our global future.
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