Only seven countries met WHO air quality standards in 2024, data shows

If you have bad water, no water, you can tell people to wait for half an hour a day, the water will come. But if you have bad air, you cannot tell people to pause breathing,

she said

While this marks some progress, much more work has yet to be done to protect human health, especially that of children,

IQAir said in the report

It can cause chest pain or shortness of breath, and can make it harder to manage conditions like high blood pressure,

says Guttmann

Harmful air pollution particles can penetrate deeply into the lungs of children, and these deeply embedded toxins can stunt lung growth,

explains Blades

Pollution triggers inflammation in the brain, disrupting neural connections and reducing oxygen supply,

says Dr Steven Allder, consultant neurologist at Re:Cognition Health

Air pollution has both immediate and long-term impacts on health, causing inflammation and irritation of the airways, which can lead to symptoms like coughing and breathing difficulties,

says Jonathan Blades, head of policy at Asthma + Lung UK

If you have a minor eye health problem, the pharmacy should be your first port of call,

advises Marchetti

When walking outside we are confronted with pollution from road traffic and industry, including particulate matter, carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO) and sulphur dioxide (SO2),

highlights Francesca Marchetti, optometrist and adviser to GoldenEye

Increased exposure to polluted air has been associated with higher rates of anxiety and depression,

highlights Allder

Pollutants such as fine particles (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) can cause inflammation in the body, making blood vessels stiffer and less able to function properly,

explains Dr Oliver Guttmann, consultant cardiologist at The Wellington Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare UK

Wearing masks in high-traffic areas can also help protect brain health and lower the risk of pollution-related neurological damage,

adds Allder

Moisture twice a day and look for ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and squalane to keep the skin hydrated and resilient,

recommends Perry

This makes sure dirt is removed from the skin, including pollutants which are invisible to the naked eye,

explains Perry

Most countries have a few other data sources, but it's going to impact Africa significantly, because oftentimes these are the only sources of publicly available real-time air quality monitoring data,

said Christi Chester-Schroeder, IQAir's air quality science manager

(It ... It) is a giant blow to air quality efforts worldwide,

she said