The Air

Air pollution is contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by  any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the natural  characteristics of the atmosphere. Household combustion devices, motor vehicles, industrial facilities and  forest fires are common sources of air pollution. Pollutants of major  public health concern include particulate matter, carbon monoxide,  ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. Outdoor and indoor air  pollution cause respiratory and other diseases and are important sources  of morbidity and mortality.

Air quality is closely linked to the earth’s climate and ecosystems  globally. Many of the drivers of air pollution (i.e. combustion of  fuels) are also sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Policies to  reduce air pollution, therefore, offer a win-win strategy for both  climate and health, lowering the burden of disease attributable to air  pollution, as well as contributing to the near- and long-term mitigation  of climate change.