New review shows harmful health impacts of pollution before birth through to old age

• New review reveals fullest picture of air pollution impacts on health yet
• Research reveals the risks of air pollution on health prenatally through to old age
• Children are particularly vulnerable to harmful effects of air pollution caused by traffic
• Mayor determined to clean up London’s toxic air and calls on Government to do more

The findings come from a new report published today which reveals the serious and life-limiting risks of air pollution on physical and mental health across a lifetime.

The review provides the most up-to-date summary of the significant body of scientific evidence showing that air pollution poses a serious risk to people’s health at every stage of life, including prior to birth. The latest evidence shows that adverse health effects are seen even in relatively low air pollution environments, below those experienced in London.

The report, carried out by researchers from Imperial College London’s Environmental Research Group via Imperial Projects provides a strong evidence base for the need to clean up London’s toxic air as a matter of urgency. 

Key findings from the report include:

• Emerging evidence suggests that air pollution begins to negatively affect people before they conceive by lowering sperm count and mobility
• Air pollution can also impair normal foetal development in the womb, increasing the risk of miscarriage, low birth weight and pre-term births.
• Children living in London are particularly at risk of developing lifelong, chronic conditions, including poorly developed lungs, asthma, high blood pressure, inattention and hyperactivity, and mental illness.
• The health impacts of air pollution exposure continue well into old age, increasing the risk of stroke, dementia, cancer, multiple longer-term illness including respiratory and cardiovascular disease, and early death.

The review also confirms that air pollution caused by traffic is a major issue in London, and that schoolchildren are especially vulnerable to developing health complications as a result.

One unique study of 258 children in London [1]  revealed that on average, particle pollution (PM_2.5) on their morning journey to and from school was over 50 per cent higher than in their school environment.

The children who travelled by car breathed more air pollution than those who walked along quiet roads, with the greatest PM_2.5 concentrations being around 20 µg m^-3. The study also revealed that walking along main roads led to the greatest exposure to air pollution at 33 per cent more than those who walked along quieter roads. Currently there is no clear evidence of a ‘safe’ level of PM_2.5 exposure below which no adverse health effects occur.  

The review outlines strong evidence that policies to reduce air pollution have measurable benefits for health, with two studies in California and Sweden revealing improvements to lung growth in children as air quality improved.

Sadiq Khan has been at the forefront of the mission to clean up London’s toxic air. The introduction of the world’s first Ultra Low Emission Zone has already resulted in a 21 per cent reduction in harmful nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) concentrations in inner London and a 46 per cent reduction in central London. The expansion of the ULEZ to outer London this August will lead to five million more Londoners being able to breathe cleaner air.

Despite the huge progress made, greater action is needed to meet World Health Organization (WHO) recommended guidelines for air quality, currently set at 5 µg/m³ and 10 µg/m³ for annual average PM_2.5 and NO₂, respectively. The guidelines should not be perceived as ‘safe’, non-toxic thresholds. Abundant evidence suggests significant impacts below these concentrations, and for some pollutants, such as PM_2.5 there is no evidence to identify a concentration where exposure does no harm. Sadiq continues to call on Government to step up and protect Londoners of all ages from the grim health outcomes laid bare in the review by researchers from Imperial College London.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “This review from experts at Imperial College London is a startling reminder that toxic air is a matter of life and death, and that everyone – from our very youngest to our most elderly – is at risk of developing serious, lifelong health complications.

“We know that air pollution is damaging the health of Londoners in every single borough of London. That’s why there really is no time to waste in introducing measures like the expansion of the ULEZ to ensure that we protect the health of Londoners and build a safer, greener city for everyone.”

Dr Gary Fuller, air pollution scientist from Imperial’s Environmental Research Group and lead author of the new report said:

“There is increasing evidence that impacts of air pollution are hiding in plain sight in the burden of chronic illness that affects so many people. These air pollution impacts affect our quality of life and have a large cost to society through additional health and social care costs, as well our ability to learn, work and contribute to society. The latest evidence, reflected in the new WHO guidelines, tell us that current levels of air pollution will be affecting everyone in London, including those living in the least polluted suburbs, and especially those with pre-existing vulnerabilities.”

Professor Sir Stephen Holgate, special adviser on air quality to the Royal College of Physicians and UK Research and Innovation Clean Air Champion said:

“I welcome this review by Imperial’s Environmental Research Group which emphasises that air pollution harms us in all phases of life. All the latest evidence shows that the systemic effects of pollutants extend beyond the cardiopulmonary system to affect many other organs, increasing the risk of disease from conception and across a lifetime like tobacco smoking. Even because we cannot see it, air pollution, as currently encountered in the UK, should be taken much more seriously than has been the case.”

Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah founder of the Ella Roberta Family Foundation and WHO Advocate for Health and Clean Air said:

“This up to date research is a reminder of the damage air pollution is doing to everyone’s health especially children and some of the damage will be irreversible. Two years on from Ella’s inquest and the urgent action that should be taken is still lacking. My hope is once politicians read carefully through more research they will reconsider Ella’s Law. Politicians must find the political will to deal with this health emergency and I will continue to urge doctors to help in raising awareness with the public. It is essential in moving forward the Government must commit to a public health campaign, this will help in getting the message out to the country. We must also remember that those that cause the least pollution suffer the most consequences”. 

The review is published on the same day as a GLA toxic air event. Held at City Hall, the evening reception will bring young Londoners, communities, and experts together to highlight the impact of poor air quality in London’s diverse communities. At the event attendees will watch a screening of Black Corporeal (Breathing by Numbers), a powerful film highlighting the disproportionate impact of air pollution in inner city London by outstanding visual artist and poet Julianknxx. This will be followed by a conversation with Julianknxx alongside a panel of campaigners and young Londoners, including Shirley Rodrigues, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, Agnes Agyepong, Founder of Black Maternal Health, Debbie Weekes-Barnard, Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice and Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, founder of the Ella Roberta Family Foundation and World Health Organization Advocate for Health and Clean Air.