What is air pollution?

Air pollution is the largest environmental risk to public health

Virtually every home in the UK is subjected to air pollution above the World Health Organisation Guidelines.

In 2021, 8.1 million deaths globally were linked to air pollution.

In the UK, it is estimated 43,000 people die early every year because of air pollution.

Household air pollution exposure can lead to:

Lung Disease

Poor air quality is the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK, as long-term exposure to air pollution can cause chronic conditions such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases as well as lung cancer, leading to reduced life expectancy.

Heart Disease

When you breathe in poor quality air, the air pollutants can travel deep into your bloodstream through your lungs, and to your heart. This can increase your risk of developing heart and circulatory diseases.

Asthma

Air pollution can cause asthma and other lung diseases. It also worsens asthma symptoms, leads to increased hospital visits, and can cause early death.

Strokes

Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide and causes more than 40,000 deaths in the UK each year. Short-term exposure to four different types of pollution increased the risk of hospitalisation or death from stroke in the following week.

Shortened Lifespan

Life expectancy is reduced by particulate matter globally by 1year and 8 months (2019) which is almost as much as tobacco use.

How air pollution affects people throughout their lifetime:

Pregnancy

  • Low birth weight
  • Miscarriages
  • Low sperm count in men

Air pollution harmed foetal development during pregnancy and could cause low birth weight and miscarriages, as well as a low sperm count in men.

Children

  • Asthma
  • Slower development of lung function
  • Development problems
  • More wheezing and coughs

Children are physiologically more vulnerable to air pollution than adults because their brains, lungs and other organs are still developing. Some air pollutants can cross the placenta and affect developing babies. Air pollution can also affect lung function and development, which continues through adolescence.

Adults

  • Asthma
  • Coronary heart disease
  • Strokes
  • Chronic obtrusive pulmonary disease
  • Diabetes
  • Lung cancer

When levels of air pollutants rise, adults suffering from heart conditions, and adults and children with lung conditions, are at increased risk of becoming ill and needing treatment.

Elderly

  • Asthma
  • Accelerated decline in lung function
  • Lung cancer
  • Diabetes
  • Dementia
  • Heart attack, heart failure
  • Strokes

Older people are disproportionately affected by air pollution with spikes in particulate matter associated with increased strokes and hospitalisation. Exposure to air pollution has also been associated with cognitive decline in older people.

What we can do to help

Go local

Walk or cycle to school

Start cycling or walking your commute

Cut down on car journeys

Give car sharing a go

Plant more tress and greenery

Avoid burning at home

Cut down on your meat and dairy intake

Support Clean Air legislation

Switch energy suppliers

This video from Sustrans give a quick introduction to Air Quality and what it takes to be come an #AirQualityExplorer