Update on WHO and TFH activities Marie-Eve Héroux Technical Officer, Air Quality and Noise WHO European Centre for Environment and Health 1

Presentation outline Reporting on activities 2016-2017 TFH meeting May 2017; inputs to work plan for 2018-2019 Relevant regional and global activities

Activities 2016-2017 Develop further the methodologies for assessment and quantification of direct and indirect effects of long-range transboundary air pollution on human health Launch of WHO AirQ tool; capacity building at regional and sub-regional levels Collect and analyze the evidence on health impacts of ozone and particulate matter (including black carbon) Update of WHO Air Quality Guidelines Assess the practices for communication of health risks associated with air pollution exposure Overview on communication strategies/systems in different parties to the Convention – results of WHO survey

Update of Global AQ guidelines (1/2) Ongoing project (2016-2020) General objectives: For a number of ambient air pollutants, for relevant averaging times and in relation to critical health outcomes: Provide updated numerical concentration limits (i.e. guidelines) and, Where possible, provide an indication of the shape of the concentration-response function (CRF) Provide a qualitative recommendation on the relation between exposure to natural sources of dust and adverse health outcomes. Funding/in-kind support received from the European Commission (DG-Env), Switzerland, USA, Germany and Republic of Korea

Update of Global AQ guidelines (2/2) Selection of pollutants and health outcomes: Pollutants: PM (PM2.5, PM10), NO2, O3, SO2, CO Health outcomes: based on a framework for causality and severity of outcomes Long-term exposure to PM, O3 and NO2 and mortality Short-term exposure to CO and ED visits/HA due to ischemic heart disease Short-term exposure to NO2, O3, SO2 and ED visits/HA due to asthma Short-term exposure to PM, O3 and NO2 and mortality Development of methodology for guideline development and conduct of systematic reviews / meta-analyses in 2017-2018 * ED visits/HA = emergency department visits/hospital admission

20th TFH meeting – 16-17 May 2017 National and international policies and processes on air quality and health Review of the progress in research on health impacts of air pollution Including new knowledge on NO2 and PAHs Experiences in using WHO AirQ+ software to quantify the health impacts of air pollution Case studies, experience and user feedback Needs for capacity building Future upgrades and new functionalities of the tool Communication and public health messages for air pollution For general public, patients and medical professionals Discussion of current activities and work plan of TFH for 2018-2019 *Funding from Switzerland and Germany acknowledged

Regional activities 6th Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health 7 emerging priority areas currently being negotiated for the Conference: ensuring the environmental sustainability of health systems safe and sustainable water and sanitation making European cities sustainable and resilient to global environmental change improving air quality eliminating threats to human health for countries in transition to the circular economy strengthening resilience to climate change promoting chemical safety

Draft revised mandate for TFH? Responsible for assessing health impacts related to air pollution Functions: Quantification of health impacts at local and regional levels: Monitoring and reporting Providing advice and tools Expanding the knowledge base: Consolidation of existing evidence on health outcomes (evidence reviews, guideline recommendations) Identification of new/emerging issues of health relevance (knowledge gaps, research needs) International coordination: Involvement of health sector and other actors Synergies with other processes (Paris Agreement, UNEA, SDGs, etc)