4 January 2021 – This national virtual workshop was organized using the regional framework for addressing air pollution and health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region 2017–2022 as a reference.
The workshop brought together 16 national health, environment and statistics professionals to exchange knowledge, best practices, and provide answers to questions related to air quality levels and health measurements in Jordan. Its objectives of the workshop were to:
- update and share knowledge about the health effects of air pollution;
- review methods, system and tools for quantifying the impacts of air pollution on population health;
- discuss the application of AirQ+ software with real health and air quality data;
- assess burden of disease.
The WHO Regional Centre for Environmental Health Action (CEHA) reviews scientific evidence on the health effects of air pollution and provides evidence-based guidance to policy-makers in the 22 countries of the Region. CEHA also helps build capacities of the health and environment sectors to assess health risks from air pollution and develop sustainable policies on air quality management.
The workshop also provided a space for national professionals to discuss and propose applicable sustainable solutions to reduce the anthropogenic air pollution levels and its health impacts. The major outcomes were:
- The long-term health impacts of ambient air pollution (especially PM10, PM2.5, NO2, and O3) were assessed in Jordan using real air quality, health, and population data in 2017-2019.
- The short-term health gains resulting from the COVID-19 lockdown March-April 2020 were assessed.
- The background level for air pollution in Jordan during the COVID-19 lockdown periods were recorded.
- Agreement on the need to update national air quality standards for PM10 and PM2.5 in Jordan as soon as possible.
