For the first time since 2005, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has updated its global air quality standards and recommends halving fine particles concentrations at least.
Along with climate change, air pollution is one of the major threats to human health, the WHO said.
The new WHO guidelines set out air quality guidelines on six pollutants, including ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide.
There are also hints of other effects such as diabetes and neurodegenerative illnesses, the WHO said.
The other two are fine dust of the dimensions PM10 and PM2.5, or smaller than 10 and 2.5 microns in diameter, respectively.
The WHO said that, while ambient air quality in high-income countries had increased significantly since the 1990s, there had been little reduction in deaths or lost years of healthy living, given that air quality in most other countries generally had deteriorated, consistent with their economic developments.
The Panel concluded that the impact of air pollution is especially common in communities and low income countries.
To achieve these goals, the organisation recommends a multi-pronged approach for governments, which includes investment in green energy solutions and public transport, better management of waste and access to cleaner fuels for heating and cooking in their homes.
