For example, King’s College London found that living near a busy road in London may contribute to 230 hospital admissions for strokes every year, while also stunting lung growth in children by 12.5%.
Given transport’s significant contribution towards NO 2 and PM2.5 levels, there is growing evidence of the increased health risks posed to parts of the population who are more exposed to busy roads. 1Ī challenging aspect of London’s air quality problem is that, given the geographical and economic diversity of the city, air pollution affects some parts of the population disproportionately. 2 The economic cost of this loss of London life is estimated to be up to £3.7 billion ($4.8 billion). 1 This represents a substantial proportion of the UK’s estimated national health burden of 40,000 premature deaths annually, estimated by the Royal College of Physicians in 2016. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 can contribute to respiratory infections, aggravating asthma, cardiovascular disease, and lung cancer.Īn influential study conducted by King’s College London in 2015 estimated that London PM2.5 pollution contributes towards 3,500 premature deaths in London annually, while NO 2 contributes towards 5,900 premature deaths, making a total health burden of 9,400 premature deaths per year. NO 2, created from the combustion of fossil fuels, can lead to lung irritation and increases the risk of respiratory diseases, while long-term exposure has also been linked to increased risk of premature death. The main pollutants of concern in London are fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2), which are generated in London from urban transport and heating of homes, among other sources. While the city has come a long way since the infamous, ‘pea-soup’ Great Smog of 1952, and air pollution has become less visible in the capital, it still presents severe health and economic risks to the city.
London air pollution levels are frequently found to break both UK legal and World Health Organization (WHO) limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO 2), and WHO limits for PM2.5. The city is regularly found to have some of the highest air pollution levels in the country, and coupled with housing 9 million of the UK’s population of 67 million, this results in high levels of exposure presenting a health risk to numerous residents.
Air pollution in London has been a long-term health concern for the United Kingdom’s capital.
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