The Most Important Laws and Plans to Reduce Air Pollution Caused by PM, SO ₂ , NO ₂ , and VOC Pollutants in Iran and Other Countries: A Systematic Review Study

According to the WHO report, 9 out of 10 people worldwide breathe air with high levels of pollutants, and every year, air pollution causes the premature death of more than 7 million people. To identify relevant literature, keywords such as air pollution, strategies, international laws, mitigation, regulation, reduction, national, international, urban, cities, traffic, vehicle, emission, particulate matter, SO2 , NO2 , VOC, air quality, standards, management, policies, policy implementation, outdoor air, ambient air, and mitigation measures were used to search the Scopus and PubMed databases. The review period covered studies published from 2010 to 2023. The results of studies show that most countries adopt successful air pollution control measures from other nations. The majority of the world’s most polluted cities are located in China and India; this study primarily examined the air pollution situation in these countries. Furthermore, the air pollution status and mitigation programs implemented in England (especially London), the United States, the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, South Africa, and Australia—countries with successful experiences in reducing air pollution—were also discussed. The results demonstrate that these plans have a remarkable capacity to prevent the harmful effects of air pollution and mitigate climate change.