Geneva (AP) – The UN Health Agency says nearly everyone in the world breathes air that does not meet its air quality standards. More actions to reduce the use of fossil fuels that cause pollutants that cause respiratory and circulatory problems and cause millions of deaths each year.

About six months after tightening air quality guidelines, the World Health Organization on Monday released an updated air quality database based on a growing number of cities, towns and villages around the world, now more than 6,000 municipalities.

According to the World Health Organization, 99% of the world’s population breathes air that exceeds air quality limits and is often filled with particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs, penetrate veins and arteries, and cause sick. Air quality is worst in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean and Southeast Asian regions, followed by Africa.

“After surviving a pandemic, it is unacceptable to avoid 7 million deaths and many years of loss of health due to air pollution,” Drs. Maria Neira, WHO Head of the Environment Department, climate change and WHO health. “However, so much investment is still sinking into a polluted environment instead of clean, healthy air.”

The database, which traditionally considers two types of particles known as PM2.5 and PM10, initially includes measurements of nitrogen dioxide. The latest version of the database will be released in 2018.

Nitrogen dioxide is mainly produced by the combustion of artificial fuels, such as road traffic, and is more common in cities. The effect can lead to respiratory diseases such as asthma and symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath, and more to the hospital and emergency room, the WHO said. The highest concentration was observed in the eastern region of the Mediterranean.

On Monday, the island of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean recorded high concentrations of atmospheric dust for the third consecutive day, in some cities it was three times and almost four times more than 50 micrograms per square meter, considered of government normal. Officials said the microscopic particles could be particularly harmful to children, the elderly and the sick.

Particles have many sources, such as transportation, power plants, agriculture, waste incineration, and even industry. Natural resources such as dust in the desert. The developing world was particularly affected: India had high levels of PM10, while China showed high levels of PM2.5, the database showed.

“The particles, especially PM2.5, can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, causing cardiovascular, cerebrovascular (stroke) and respiratory effects,” the WHO said. “There is evidence that the particles affect other organs and cause other diseases.”

The findings show the large scale of changes needed to combat air pollution, said Anumita Roichovdhuri, an air pollution expert at the Center for Science and the Environment, a New Delhi -based research organization.

India and the world must prepare for major changes to try to reduce air pollution, including the use of electric vehicles, fossil fuel emissions, the massive expansion of green energy and the emission of these types of waste. , was adopted.

The Energy, Environment and Water Council, a New Delhi -based think tank, found that over 60% of India’s PM2.5 cargo is domestic and industrial. Tanushri Ganguli, who heads the municipality’s air quality program, called for measures to reduce emissions from industries. machines Combustion of biomass and domestic energy.

“We need to prioritize access to clean energy for the families most in need of it and take active steps to clean up our industrial sector,” he said.

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Anirudda Gossal in New Delhi contributed to this report.