Resolves YES if the WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines set stricter recommendations for PM2.5 and PM10 air pollution thresholds before 2030.

Resolves NO otherwise.

This question reflects the evolving scientific evidence on the health effects of particulate matter pollution and the political willingness to adopt more or less stringent recommendations to protect public health.

Stricter recommendations mean that the recommended threshold average:

• PM2.5 annual exposure is smaller than 5 μg/m³, and/or

• …24-hour exposure is smaller than 15 μg/m³, and/or

• PM10 annual exposure is smaller than 15 μg/m³ and/or

• …24-hour exposure is smaller than 45 μg/m³.

Not only a full new release but any revision or correction shall count as the next guidelines. If the next guidelines use different time frames for the recommendations (e.g. monthly instead of annual), a reasonable, common-sense adjustment shall be applied to compare them with the previous ones. In cases of any other ambiguity, a common-sense decision shall be made, selecting the norm that applies to most people in normal circumstances.

The WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines are published by the World Health Organization and provide guidance on reducing the health impacts of air pollution. The latest guidelines were published in 2021 and can be checked e.g. at https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/who-global-air-quality-guidelines.