US EPA

3033869 

Journal Article 

Abstract 

Ambient air quality standards for particulate matter - an overview 

Joss, MK; Gintowt, E; Dyntar, D; Rapp, R; Kuenzli, N 

2015 

1 

Tropical Medicine and International Health
ISSN: 1360-2276
EISSN: 1365-3156 

20 

Supplement 1 

263-264 

English 

WOS:000360758801239 

is part of a larger document 3513636 Abstracts of the 9th European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health, 6-10 September 2015, Basel, Switzerland - Poster Sessions

Background: The air quality guideline values proposed by WHO are based on the available research and set at levels to protect public health. Governments are responsible for setting national or local air quality standards. Although available associations between air pollution and health outcomes are rather similar across all countries with no evidence for region specific health effects, air quality standards differ largely across the world. The objective of our investigation was to compile a list of all long-term standards set for particulate matter (PM). PM are an excellent marker of health relevant characteristics of air quality and scientific evidence for adverse effects of PM is very strong.

Methods: We have searched the web for official documents, asked WHO and international collaborators to contribute to the list of air quality standards with the respective reference.

Results: We have compiled air quality limit values from over 40 countries worldwide. 39 countries regulate particulate matter: 34 (87%) countries regulate PM10, 19 (49%) also or solely regulate PM2.5. WHO proposes an annual air quality guideline value of 10 lg PM2.5/m3, which has been adopted by only three countries to date: Australia with an even stricter value of 8 lg/m3, Canada and Iran, plus Switzerland currently discussing its adoption. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set the limit value at 12 lg PM2.5/m3. Other countries have set their limit value between 15 and 40 lg/m3. PM10 limit values worldwide range from 20 (Switzerland) to 60 lg/m3. Most countries have set the limit value for PM10 at 50 lg/m3.

Conclusions: This is a first overview on ambient air quality standards worldwide for particulate matter. The broad spectrum of values reflects the countries’ options to implement science based environmental regulations to protect public health. Studies have shown that the societal and health costs of air pollution are much larger than the costs of clean air regulations. In light of the globalized economy there is a clear need to also globalize air quality standards to protect peoples’ health in all countries and to hinder the export of heavily polluting industries or technologies to countries with poor policies.

Disclosure: The author is working for the literature database LUDOK (Dokumentationsstelle Luft und Gesundheit) which selects, categorizes and summarizes relevant international research papers on the topic of air pollution and health outcomes on behalf of the Swiss Federal Office of the Environment (Bundesamt fur Umwelt). 

9th European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health 

Basel, Switzerland 

September 6-10, 2015