Air Quality & Goal 3 - Good Health and Well Being
Goal 3 focuses on good health and well-being for all. Air pollution is one of the most significant environmental challenges affecting public health.
Exposure to air pollution increases susceptibility to respiratory viral infections and pneumonia and is one of the most avoidable causes of disease and death.
Ambient air pollution is made up of pollutants such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxide, ozone and sulphur dioxide. Exposure to these substances can exacerbate breathing and lung conditions (asthma, allergies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and heart conditions (angina, arrhythmia, heart attacks, heart failure, hypertension).
Reducing air pollution can help avoid these diseases and help us reach Goal 3. Also, geography, identity and socioeconomic factors such as income can create barriers to access to public health resources. As a result, achieving Goals 1 and 2 will also help attain our health targets.
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More Information
Ensuring healthy lives promote well-being for all.
Air Pollution and Impacts on Sustainable Development Goals
ICCIDI Africa review on how air pollution has impacted the SDGs.
Health Effects of Air Pollution
A Government of Canada review on the adverse effects air pollution has on human health.