Professor Kevin Fenton, London Regional Director of Public Health, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities reflects on the importance of London health professionals speaking with their patients about air pollution and health.
We are currently facing a significant challenge in our city – the interconnected issues of climate change, air quality and the environments in which we live, work, learn and play – which have a critically important impact on our health.
Air pollution negatively affects our health in many ways and throughout our lives, from pregnancy right through to old age – it’s associated with impacts on childhood lung development, heart disease, stroke, cancer, exacerbation of asthma, dementia and increased mortality, and those with pre-existing health conditions are particularly affected. London's poor air quality leads to more hospital admissions, more GP visits and increased work absenteeism.
Air pollution is therefore not just an environmental concern but a pressing public health emergency. The tragic death of Ella Adoo Kissi Debra in 2013 is the starkest reminder of this fact in London – 9-year-old Ella who lived in South London was the first person to have exposure to air pollution listed as a cause of death.
Health professionals have powerful roles to play in educating and protecting patients against the negative effects of air pollution. The need to strengthen professional awareness and help reduce avoidable harm to patients from air pollution was highlighted in the Coroner’s Prevention of Future Deaths report following the inquest into the death of Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, and also in the Chief Medical Officer’s 2022 Annual Report on air pollution.
The new London Air Quality alert system is an important step towards supporting health professionals to play that important role. The alert system will directly notify GPs and Emergency Departments about impending episodes of high air pollution, providing alerts approximately 24 hours in advance. Building upon the existing air pollution alert system led by the Mayor of London, these alerts are based on forecasts from Imperial College London.
In the UK, long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with an estimated 29,000 to 43,000 deaths per year. While many are aware of the respiratory effects of air pollution, it also contributes to various other health issues, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dementia, and cognitive decline.
Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that approximately 7 million deaths occur annually due to exposure to outdoor and household air pollution.
What we're asking healthcare professionals to do
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Consider the content of the alert and how you could incorporate this guidance and advice into your practice.
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Visit Global Action Plan’s Clean Air Hub for training videos for health professionals and for downloadable information and resources for patients.
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Discuss air pollution and this new alert system within teams and practice meetings.
It’s important to acknowledge that exposure to poor air quality is often linked to living in some of the more deprived parts of London, where housing is frequently located along busy roads with poorer air quality, exacerbating health inequalities.
Healthcare professionals diagnose and treat the consequences of poor air quality daily - by integrating air quality awareness into their regular practice and into patient-centred conversations, they can support patients to adopt healthier lifestyles, mitigate their exposure to air pollution and, importantly, advocate for cleaner air.
The Air Quality and Health Programme Office, a collaboration across London's healthcare system and the Mayor of London, is tasked with comprehensively understanding how air pollution affects the health of Londoners, and developing tools and resources aimed at improving air quality and ultimately safeguarding public health.