Written by: Basant El-Faramawy
About 150 scientists, parliamentarians, and activists have called for a comprehensive national inquiry into the stark disparity in health impacts resulting from air pollution, particularly on low-income families and underrepresented ethnic communities.
Disparity in Health Impacts of Pollution
Research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies showed that low-income areas in England experience consistently higher levels of air pollution compared to wealthier areas. It also showed that residents from ethnic minorities are exposed to about six percent higher levels of air pollution compared to the white population.
In a letter signed by these scientists and activists, including environmental activist Greta Thunberg, calls were made for urgent action to protect the most affected groups. Exposure to air pollution is linked to heart disease, strokes, cancer, and asthma, as well as its direct impact on children's lung development.
Sources of Pollution and Emission Reduction Efforts
Sources of air pollution vary between wood-burning stoves and industrial fossil fuel burning, but the greatest threat remains emanated from traffic and the emissions of petrol and diesel vehicles. Measures such as low-emission zones have proven remarkable success in improving air quality in some cities.
Despite the progress made in reducing pollution in several areas, recent government data indicate that air pollution levels remained illegal in parts of London, Glasgow, and Bristol. Prominent figures warned that the inaction of political parties has exposed the population to dangerous levels of emissions.
Crises of Children Hospital Admissions
New data obtained by an environmental campaign group showed that more than 200,000 children were admitted to hospitals due to breathing difficulties in several English cities, with young children and infants being hit hardest given their underdeveloped lungs.
For his part, the spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs confirmed that air quality is seeing long-term improvement, stressing the existence of new ambitious targets to significantly reduce exposure to harmful particles by 2030, and continued cooperation with local authorities to further reduce pollution.
