The State of Global Air Initiative: Increasing Access to Data on Air Quality and its Health Impacts

Air pollution is the leading environmental risk factor for human health, with millions of deaths annually and significant societal and economic costs. While access to the latest, reliable, and free air quality and health data is vital for informed decision-making, data on air pollution remains limited, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The State of Global Air Initiative (SoGA), a collaboration between the Health Effects Institute and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, addresses this need by presenting comparable data on levels and trends of air quality and the associated health impacts for more than 200 countries and territories and more than 7000 cities around the world.

The data are drawn from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study and include data on exposure to air pollutants - fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), ozone (O₃) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and the associated burden of disease – deaths, death rate and disability adjusted life years (DALYs) as well percentage of deaths attributed to specific causes of disease and death. To enhance accessibility and reach, the information is presented in a variety of ways including reports, factsheets, an interactive data app, story maps, and videos, often in multiple languages. All the reports and data resources are accessible via https://www.stateofglobalair.org/.

These estimates are produced using a variety of data - air quality estimates are produced from a combination of data from over 10,000 ground-based monitors, satellite observations, and outputs from GEOS-Chem, a chemical transport model. The disease burden estimates are produced using country-specific death and morbidity rates, other health data including disease incidence, population demographics, and exposure-response curves derived from epidemiological studies. However, since the estimates rely on available data on air quality and health, in some cases, estimates are uncertain, particularly in parts of Asia and Africa where data gaps remain. A new dataset featuring estimates for the year 2021 is set to be released shortly. Despite the caveats, such information can be used for public engagement and for making evidence-based decisions to improve air quality and public health.

In 2022 alone, the SoGA initiative reached audiences in more than 50 countries, and for many countries, they are the only available estimates for air pollution levels and associated health impacts. The data have been used for public engagement, media reporting and to inform policy decisions, especially in LMICs. These data are also relevant for scientific research.

Overall, the SoGA initiative serves to close the gap between scientific research and public understanding on air pollution and its health impacts. In this presentation, we will showcase data from the SoGA platform, review lessons learnt and highlight opportunities for future research and engagement.