Air pollution shortens lives by an average of six months

Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone has reduced pollution by almost 40% since 2021 but nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter pollution remains “a significant problem”

A new study has found that high levels of air pollution in the West Midlands causes up to 2,300 premature deaths a year, as well as 4,200 asthma diagnoses, 300 lung cancer diagnoses and 1,000 strokes, and shortens people’s lives by an average of six months.

Reducing air pollution to World Health Organisation (WHO) sanctioned levels could save up to 12,000 lives in the region over the next 20 years and save roughly £3.2 billion in air pollution related healthcare costs.

Dr Suzanne Bartington, Clinical Associate Professor in Environmental Health at the University of Birmingham and senior author of the study said, “Air pollution is one of the biggest challenges facing public health, and our data shows that every resident in the West Midlands lives in a ward where the air quality doesn’t meet WHO health-based guidelines. The impacts for the region are significant, both in poorer health outcomes for residents and the extra burden on our health services.”

Dr James Hall, Health Economist in the Institute of Applied Health Research at the University of Birmingham and lead author of the paper said: “We also know there is a potential link between air pollution and increased risk of developing other major chronic diseases including COPD and types of dementia, so the impact is likely to be even higher.”

“There is an urgent need for sustainable solutions that focus on controlling emissions at the source, rather than addressing the issue after they have already been released…”

Professor Prashant Kumar, Founding Director of the University of Surrey’s Global Centre for Clean Air Research said that while estimates of mortalities may involve certain assumptions, it is undeniable that air pollution poses a significant environmental risk. “These assessments play a crucial role in raising awareness among the general public, policymakers, and the scientific community.

“There is an urgent need for sustainable solutions that focus on controlling emissions at the source, rather than addressing the issue after they have already been released and are impacting individuals, including vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly." 

The study found initiatives like Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone, introduced in 2021, had reduced pollution by almost 40%. Roy Harrison, Professor of Environmental Health at the University of Birmingham and co-author, said this has “had an impact on the amount of NO₂ pollution in the city centre, which is a relatively small geographical area. Across the region as a whole, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter pollution is still a significant problem which we need to tackle with urgency.”

High levels of air pollution is not unique to the West Midlands: many of the UK’s largest cities average over double the WHO’s recommended 5 µg/m³ limit of PM2.5 levels including Brighton (11.5µg/m³), Cardiff (10.7µg/m³) and Nottingham (10.2µg/m³).