Air Quality

 Why do we need to improve air quality?

In 2017 Newcastle and Gateshead councils were issued with a legal direction by the  Government which required action to address illegal and harmful levels of air pollution in the area.

We know that poor air quality affects people’s health and over recent years there has been a huge amount of global medical and scientific research linking pollution to a number of serious health conditions, including heart disease, cancer and breathing problems – including childhood asthma.

It’s believed to be linked to between 28,000 and 36,000 premature deaths in the UK every year, including hundreds in Newcastle and Gateshead.

Earlier this year, following the publication of a research paper looking at pollution levels outside a number of schools in Newcastle, the Great North Children’s Hospital in the city confirmed that they regularly see the impact of pollution on young people’s health.

Sadly they see many children attending the emergency department in Newcastle struggling to breathe due to life-threatening episodes of asthma and lung infections that are made worse by exposure to pollution.

But while it can be particularly harmful to young children, as well as older people and those with existing health conditions, this is a problem that affects us all.

Drivers and others inside vehicles in particular are more likely to be affected, especially when sitting in traffic as the vehicle air vent system sucks in the exhaust emissions from the vehicle in front. Pollution levels inside the vehicle are often higher than those outside on the street.

Evidence shows that this is not confined to ‘pollution hotspots’. There are no safe levels of pollution. The effects on the body build up over time.

According to the World Health Organisation, air pollution is one of the biggest environmental threats to human health, alongside climate change.

Reducing the number of high polluting vehicles on our roads is one of the ways in which we can help to improve our air quality and make the area cleaner and healthier for everyone.