Responding to a new report from the Chief Medical Officer on air pollution, Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive of Asthma + Lung UK, said:
“This new report by the Chief Medical Officer should act as a rallying cry to the government to be bolder in tackling dirty air. Air pollution is a public health emergency, responsible for up to 36,000 early deaths a year in the UK. Toxic air affects us from our very first breath, stunting children’s lung growth, putting people at risk of potentially life-threatening asthma attacks and dangerous COPD flare-ups, and can even lead to the development of serious lung conditions including lung cancer.
“Chris Whitty is right to shine a spotlight on the devastating impacts of dirty air, but this isn’t the first report showing how dangerous air pollution can be. How many times does the government need to be told that air pollution is a public health emergency before it stops dragging its heels and takes bolder action? It is now vital that meaningful steps are taken to protect public health from this invisible threat. This includes schemes that work to get the most polluting vehicles off our roads.”