The air we breathe is fundamental to life, yet the quality of that air varies drastically across the globe. Understanding the complexities of air quality standards (AQS) is crucial for policymakers, researchers, and concerned citizens alike. Thankfully, several invaluable tools exist to navigate this complex landscape.   

Two prominent resources stand out: the WHO’s Air Quality Standards tool and the STC34’s IEQ Guidelines platform.

The WHO’s Interactive Tool: A Global Overview

The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a powerful interactive tool, accessible at https://worldhealthorg.shinyapps.io/Air_Quality_Standards_V2_1/, that allows users to explore ambient AQS from countries worldwide. This platform provides a user-friendly interface to compare standards for key pollutants such as particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO). Users can filter by country, pollutant, and averaging time, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the diverse regulatory approaches adopted globally.   

STC34’s IEQ Guidelines: A Focus on Indoor Environments

The Scientific and Technical Committee STC34, through its IEQ Guidelines platform at https://ieqguidelines.org, offers a valuable resource for navigating indoor and outdoor air quality standards. While encompassing broader IEQ considerations, the platform also provides insights into indoor air quality guidelines and related standards. This is particularly relevant as people spend a significant portion of their lives indoors, making indoor air quality a critical aspect of overall health.  

A Call for Universal Standards: The Global Open Air Quality Standards (GO AQS) Initiative

While both the WHO and STC34 tools offer valuable insights, they also highlight a critical issue: the significant disparity in AQS across different regions. This disparity raises ethical concerns, as it suggests that some populations are afforded greater protection from air pollution than others.   

Driven by the belief that all humans deserve equal access to clean air, regardless of their location, we have developed the Global Open Air Quality Standards (GO AQS) initiative. Our mission is to promote the adoption of universal, scientifically robust AQS that prioritize human health and well-being.

As a starting point, we have focused on indoor environments. Indoor air quality is often overlooked, yet it plays such as children and the elderly. GO AQS aims to provide a framework for establishing consistent and protective indoor air quality standards globally.   

The Vision for GO AQS:

• Equity and Equality: To ensure that all individuals, regardless of their location, are protected by the same high standards of air quality.
• Scientific Rigor: To base AQS on the latest scientific evidence and best practices.
• Transparency and Accessibility: To make AQS information freely available to all stakeholders.
• Collaboration and Advocacy: To work with governments, organizations, and individuals to promote the adoption of universal AQS.

The GO AQS initiative is a step towards a future where clean air is a fundamental human right, not a privilege. By leveraging existing resources and advocating for change, we can strive for a world where everyone breathes equal.