We focus on four complex health issues more prevalent in urban areas
With the Social Progress Imperative, we've developed the first neighbourhood level, health-focused social progress index of its kind.
With Wellcome Trust
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Health effects of air pollution
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Urban air pollution and the health of people with heart and lung conditions
These maps indicate prevalence of lung and heart conditions. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is more common in the north of Southwark, while asthma is more common in the south of the boroughs. The distribution of these conditions is driven by many factors in addition to air pollution such as age and other risk factors.
To understand exposure we need to understand where people spend their time and how polluted those environments are. While more work is needed, these dots mark places where people with heart and lung conditions spend some of their time: our local hospitals.
The entire footprint of our boroughs is above the guidelines set by WHO for air pollutants PM2.5 and PM10. Half of our local hospitals (5 out of 10) are in areas with PM2.5 levels that are 50% higher than the WHO guidelines recommend.
“ Research has shown air pollution can worsen existing heart and circulatory conditions, such as symptoms of angina, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and others. Cleaner air isn’t just a nice thing to have – it is vital to help people live healthier and longer lives. Jacob West Executive Director of Healthcare Innovation, British Heart Foundation
Research has shown air pollution can worsen existing heart and circulatory conditions, such as symptoms of angina, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and others. Cleaner air isn’t just a nice thing to have – it is vital to help people live healthier and longer lives.
Sarah is an outdoor worker for an environmental education charity in Lambeth. She doesn’t own a car and tries to cycle most places, with public transport her back-up option.
As part of the groundwork for our programme, we researched air pollution awareness among people living in our inner-city area. Together with partners including Global Action Plan, Opinium and BMG Research we did:
This insight will help us develop more effective projects to address poor air quality and improve the health of local residents – particularly the vulnerable groups who are the focus of our programme.
When we asked our focus groups about the challenges of living in Southwark and Lambeth those with health conditions, or caring for someone with a health condition, were more likely to say the air quality has got worse.
Concern about air quality in Lambeth and Southwark also rises if individuals are aware of the problem or directly affected by it. The patient focus group, for example, ranked the importance of air pollution as a local issue higher than older people, families and businesses. For these latter focus groups, the most important issues are safety (young families and older people) and the cost of rent (businesses).
The patient focus group felt the connection between air pollution and their health most strongly. This group were well informed about air pollution as many had been diagnosed with conditions associated with air pollution and had been informed by a health professional that air pollution could be contributing to their condition.
The patient group were also the exception to a general lack of awareness of how to protect yourself from air pollution; some are consciously taking steps to protect their health.
However, there were still misunderstandings common amongst the general public about what is effective: one participant mentioned buying a face mask to reduce their exposure.
People with lung conditions think air pollution is more important to their health than people with heart conditions. This suggests that people with lung conditions are more aware of the impact air pollution has on them.
The majority of people in Lambeth and Southwark understand that the main source of air pollution is traffic and, when asked for detail, were able to identify specific sources. However, in the focus groups, air pollution was often discussed in the same breath as other environmental issues, such as recycling and air miles. The exception was the patient focus group, for example the following comment about delivery vans.
“ Well, delivery vans in general. I moved in to where we are now 25 years ago. There was such a thing as getting things delivered by foot but now daily in the square at the back of our house between us and the river you can get 15 or 20 coming in there, Tesco, Iceland, yodel, Amazon, DHL, the post office, special deliveries, its constant! Patient focus group participant
Well, delivery vans in general. I moved in to where we are now 25 years ago. There was such a thing as getting things delivered by foot but now daily in the square at the back of our house between us and the river you can get 15 or 20 coming in there, Tesco, Iceland, yodel, Amazon, DHL, the post office, special deliveries, its constant!
Both the patient and family focus groups suggested lowering the cost of public transport would help alleviate the problem of air pollution. The focus group of people with health conditions (all aged 65+) also mentioned the importance of the Freedom Pass for public transport.
“ I’ve never smoked in my life but I was diagnosed with COPD about four or five years ago. They did some tests and they came back and said I’ve got the lungs of an 84-year-old. I did drive around London for 23 years Health conditions focus group participant
I’ve never smoked in my life but I was diagnosed with COPD about four or five years ago. They did some tests and they came back and said I’ve got the lungs of an 84-year-old. I did drive around London for 23 years
Air pollution can affect children’s organ development from pregnancy through to early adolescence, with children living near busy roads four times more likely than adults to have reduced lung function. Yet, our local parents are more likely than other groups to think the dangers of air pollution have been exaggerated.
Air pollution is linked with heart failure, strokes, poor cognition and even lung cancer in older people over 65, with high levels of particulate matter increasing their risk of hospitalisation. Our research shows that older people are less likely to point to poor air quality as an important issue to address.
The more we know about air pollution in urban areas, the more we will be able to design effective solutions.