‘Air Monitoring and Protection Strategies in EECCA’ UNECE/WGEMA Workshop, Geneva, 11 June 2007 Dr Hans-Guido Mücke for the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Bonn Office WHO Regional Office for Europe New WHO Air Quality Guidelines and the Framework Plan for development of PM Monitoring in EECCA

WHO AQG - Global update The process Basis: Air Quality Guidelines for Europe, 2nd edition, WHO 2000 Oct – Nov 2004: Steering Group established Jan - Sept 2005: review of the evidence (ca 80 experts involved) October 2005: WG meeting, Bonn (report published Feb 2006) Dec 2005 – June 2006: finalization of background materials (drafts 2-4) 5 October 2006 – WHO press release on AQG WHO editing / printing  published in April

Passing interim targets on the way towards AQG Exposure Effect AQG IT-2 IT-1

WHO AQG - Global update Particulate matter: annual mean Annual mean level PM 10 (µg/m 3 ) PM 2.5 (µg/m 3 ) Basis for the selected level Interim target-1 (IT-1) 7035Levels associated with about 15% higher long-term mortality than at AQG Interim target-2 (IT-2) 5025Risk of premature mortality decreased by approximately 6% compared to IT1 Interim target-3 (IT-3) 3015Mortality risk reduced by approximately 6% compared to IT2 levels. Air quality guideline (AQG) 2010Lowest levels at which total, CP and LCA mortality have been shown to increase (Pope et al., 2002). The use of PM 2.5 guideline is preferred. AQG 2000: no guideline value

Annual average PM10 concentrations observed in selected cities worldwide AQG level IT3IT2IT1

WHO AQG - Global update Summary of updated AQG values PollutantAveraging timeAQG value Particulate matter PM 2.5 PM 10 1 year 24 hour (99 th percentile) 1 year 24 hour (99 th percentile) 10 µg/m 3 25 µg/m 3 20 µg/m 3 50 µg/m 3 Ozone, O 3 8 hour, daily maximum*)100 µg/m 3 Nitrogen dioxide, NO 2 1 year 1 hour 40 µg/m µg/m 3 Sulfur dioxide, SO 2 24 hour **) 10 minute 20 µg/m µg/m 3 AQG levels recommended to be achieved everywhere, in order to significantly reduce the adverse health effects of pollution *) AQG 2000: 120 μg/m3 **) AQG 2000: 125 μg/m3

Percentage of children living in cities with various PM10 levels, 2004 (or last available year) Note: In several countries the assessment is based on one city only. Source: AirBase and EUROSTAT

Projected PM emissions in Europe, Source: IIASA EU15 EU10Non-EU CLE: current legislation; MTFR: Maximum technically feasible reductions

Can health impacts of air pollution be reduced? The health benefits of a ban of coal sales in Dublin

WHO Framework Plan for development of PM monitoring in EECCA The Fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health (Budapest, June 2004) requested WHO/Euro to assist MS of Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA) in strengthening their capacities to reduce the health impacts of exposures to environmental hazards The framework plan is a general strategy and technical action plan, WHO/Euro 2006: – Summarizes principles of PM10 and PM2.5 monitoring – Presents practical guidelines on essential steps to be taken in a country initiating PM monitoring – Considers the cost-effectiveness of the system and its operation in countries with limited financial resources and limited expertise

Framework for establishing PM monitoring in EECCA Framework Plan National Plan Pilot Project National monitoring system

Conclusions 1/2 WHO AQG provide challenging targets for air pollution control Evidence for reduction of risk level with reduction of exposure Reduction of health risks: focus on primary PM, PM precursors and NOx Policy development must address the health impacts of air pollution  Air pollution monitoring (PM10 & PM 2.5 !!)  Identification of sources / emissions  AQ improvement plans: from interim targets  AQG

Conclusions 2/2 Progress in health-related air quality policies varies across Europe Exchange of information and experiences helps in AQ improvement throughout Europe Development of human and material capacities essential for implementation of actions in Eastern part of the region Summer 2006: Start of the FWP pilot project in Tirana, Albania in 2007: Reactions of intent from Russia and Uzbekistan