Who is most affected by the health impacts of air pollution?
Vulnerability to air pollution can depend on:
Air pollution in cities
The health challenge
Air pollution is an urgent public health problem globally, and our cities are hotspots for toxic air. By working together with local communities and city governments around the world, Breathe Cities aims to create healthier cities where everyone can thrive.
Health effects
of air pollution
The dense concentration of people, vehicles, industrial facilities and construction projects in cities makes them prime spots for toxic air. Almost no city on earth has air quality that meets the safe level guidelines recommended by experts at the World Health Organization.
Breathing polluted air allows tiny harmful particles to enter the body and vital organs such as the heart, lungs, and brain. People who are exposed to air pollution have a greater risk of developing a wide range of health problems, from respiratory issues to infectious diseases. They are more likely to suffer from asthma, lung disease, stroke, heart attacks, cancer, diabetes and dementia, and poor air quality has also been linked to poor mental health. In pregnant women, air pollution can also harm developing babies, leading to difficult births for mother, and causing babies to be born too early and too small; this impacts their health and has lasting effects throughout their lives.
Globally, over 8 million people die prematurely each year as a result of air pollution. Research shows that worldwide, there is now a greater risk of dying from breathing toxic air than from smoking.
By 2050, almost 68% of the world’s population will be living in cities. That is why Breathe Cities is working with cities around the world to clean the air, as cutting urban air pollution can help billions of people live longer, healthier lives.
Air pollution is deadly.
In 2021, it was responsible for:
8 million
deaths a year
26%
of deaths in babies less than a month old
1 in 8
deaths globally
2,000
child deaths every day
Your overall health and stage of life
Children, older adults, and pregnant people face higher health risks from air pollution. It kills a child under five every minute, increases pregnancy risks, and reduces chances of successful IVF treatment.
Historical, social and economic systems
Old zoning laws based on race, income or religion can influence access to jobs, health care, and healthy homes. Legacy car-focused planning makes it more likely that people living near to major roads and traffic will be affected by pollution.
Where you live and work
People who spend more time breathing polluted air are more likely to get sick. Those working outdoors, in certain industries, or living near pollution sources or in sub-standard housing face higher health risks.
The availability of information about air pollution
There is often a lack of accessible, understandable data on air pollution and health impacts. People able to access and understand this information are more likely to take action to avoid toxic air hotspots.
In winter, smog hangs visibly in the air of Warsaw.
The city fails to meet the World Health Organization’s guidelines for air pollution or the annual limits set by the European Union. To help tackle this problem, Warsaw has launched an ambitious suite of policies to clean its air and joined Breathe Cities.
Warsaw tackles air pollution to improve health
01--03
As coal-fired residential heating is responsible for 53% of harmful particles in its air, Warsaw banned certain kinds of coal and wood boilers and rolled out a programme to provide residents with financial assistance to move to cleaner fuels. Between 2017 and 2023, the number of these kinds of coal boilers fell by 80%, leading to the highest reduction in harmful particles (PM2.5) among European cities.
In July 2024, Warsaw established a Clean Transport Zone which aims to reduce pollution from transport by restricting the use of older, more polluting vehicles. The resulting improvements in air quality will help benefit residents’ health and wellbeing, with estimates suggesting cleaner air could save as many as 945 lives a year in the city.
Solutions for clean air
and healthier cities
Action to clean the air can help improve public health almost immediately. By listening to and working in collaboration with local communities and those who are most affected by toxic air, city officials can develop a range of solutions to combat air pollution in a more inclusive way that is tailored to their unique local context.
For example, creating more accessible and safer streets by improving pedestrian routes and cycling paths can reduce the need for polluting forms of transport, make urban spaces greener and more inclusive, and encourage residents to be more active. Improving waste management processes to reduce the open burning of waste can cut the amount of toxic chemicals in the air and reduce the other health risks from dump sites.