We’re going to COP26 because it’s time to clear the air

The health effects of air pollution are an example of inequality in action

Air pollution is a cocktail of dangerous gasses, including nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM). The smaller the particle, the further it goes into the lungs. Very fine particulate matter, like particulate matter 2.5 (which has a diameter of 2.5 microns or less), gets deepest into the lungs and carries toxic materials with it.

The health effects of air pollution are disproportionately felt by those who often contribute the least to the problem: children, older people and people with lung and heart conditions. And our new report – published by Asthma UK and British Lung Foundation as part of the Clear the Air campaign – shows that 85% of people living in areas with illegal levels of NO2 make up the poorest 20% of the UK population. A stark example of this is road traffic. The people who are most affected by the toxic fumes from traffic are often those who can’t afford a car.

This pattern is repeated globally. In 2018, the Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health said: “…in countries of every level of income, the health effects of air pollution are most frequent and more severe among the poor and the marginalised.”

We know the worst effects of air pollution are offset onto those who contribute the least to the problem and whose health is most vulnerable. But how exactly does air pollution affect health?

• At the time of writing , according to Clean Air in Cities, air pollution has contributed to 21,050 deaths in England so far in 2021. Of those, 2,592 occurred in London, 76 in Lambeth and 72 in Southwark.

• For every 10 microgram per cubic meter (µg/m³) of increased exposure to PM2.5, the risk of dying from any cancer rises by 22 percent.  

• The more fine particulate matter pollution a person is exposed to, the more likely they are to die from cardiopulmonary heart disease or lung cancer. 

For change to happen, we need to listen to people whose health has been affected by air pollution

Obvious as it might seem, air pollution is invisible and, generally, awareness of poor air quality is low. A recent YouGov poll showed that only 11% of people in the UK think air pollution is a “very big problem”, while 44% think it’s “not a big problem at all”. 

Meanwhile, our own research into awareness of air pollution among people living in Lambeth and Southwark showed that only 12% of people mentioned air pollution as a concern when unprompted and 52% of people couldn’t think of something that could help improve air quality.  

COP26 is an opportunity for people whose health is affected by air pollution to have their voices heard. This is why the Clear the Air campaign is asking people to share their stories about the ways air pollution has affected their lives. You can share your own story here.