An estimated two million people in the UK say air pollution may have contributed to breathlessness in the past twelve months, a new survey by Asthma + Lung UK has revealed.1
The survey of 2,058 adults was carried out for the charity by YouGov to gauge public perceptions on air pollution and people’s experiences of it. It found that in the past twelve months, 15% of people with lung conditions attributed air pollution as a contributing factor to their experience of breathlessness compared to 6% of people who had never been diagnosed with lung conditions. This could amount to as many as 2.3 million people.
Breathlessness or shortness of breath can be a terrifying experience. This survey is yet further evidence of the damaging and even deadly toll that dirty air takes on the nation’s health. Air pollution contributes to up to 43,000 premature deaths every year in the UK and is a major driver of life-threatening respiratory conditions, causing lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.2 Air pollution also increases the risk of infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.
The new data reveals that the public is acutely aware of the dangers posed by air pollution. When asked whether a statement was true or false, the survey showed:
- 95% of people surveyed believed it was true that air pollution can cause asthma attacks. Previous research from Asthma + Lung UK suggests air pollution is a trigger for around half of people with asthma and other serious lung conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).3
- 79% of people surveyed believed it was true that air pollution particles can impact babies in the womb, with a separate research finding toxic air pollution particles in the placenta and more recently in babies’ organs.4
- 86% of people surveyed believed it was true that air pollution can cause lung cancer which is supported by evidence that shows breathing in particulate matter (PM) plays a part in the development of lung cancer.5
While these survey results demonstrate a clear public perception of air pollution’s damaging health impacts, there seems to be a lack of awareness of the main sources of where air pollution comes from, with almost half of those surveyed (46%) mistakenly saying it was true that factories and industry are the biggest contributors to air pollution. According to latest government data, car emissions are fueling much of the high levels of NO2, PM10 and PM2.5 air pollution in the UK.6
Internal combustion engines used by petrol and diesel vehicles emit nitrogen oxides, which when they react with the environment become the toxic gas nitrogen dioxide. This is as well as fine particles, which are 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair known as PM2.5 that are small enough to travel deep into our lungs and can result in stunted lung growth in children and cause serious lung conditions.
These findings are revealed as the charity launches its new ‘Putting the brakes on toxic air: our transport plan for a greener, fairer future’ campaign, with the support of Impact on Urban Health, urging the government to help the most vulnerable in society to switch to cleaner modes of travel, including active travel options like walking and cycling, using public transport and driving less-polluting cars.
The report is calling on policymakers to establish a targeted scheme for people on low incomes or with long-term lung conditions, to switch their polluting vehicles in exchange for a financial grant, which can be used to buy a bicycle for active travel; to fund public transport use; or towards purchasing an electric vehicle. Government investment in a ‘Cleaner Travel Access Fund’ across England will help those who need it most to access cleaner transport options such as walking, cycling, public transport and electric vehicles.
One of the many parents concerned by the harmful effects of air pollution on his family’s health is Robin Hewings, a charity worker from Haringey. His daughter, Nancy, developed symptoms of breathing problems in 2017 when she was four and, after multiple trips to A&E, was diagnosed with pneumonia. A couple of years later, when Nancy was six, she was formally diagnosed with asthma, though doctors suspected she had asthma beforehand. Robin’s wife, Ellen, has also been recently diagnosed with adult-onset asthma.
Robin said:
“London’s dirty air is really affecting our family’s health – in particular, my daughter whose asthma has been made worse by air pollution. There are days when the high levels of toxic air near Nancy’s school mean she can’t do sport or play with her friends. It's hard to explain to a child that the reason she can’t play outside is something as intrinsic to life as the air you breathe.”
Robin and his family have had to educate themselves on the dangers of air pollution since Nancy’s diagnosis.
Robin continued:
“As this survey shows, air pollution is an everyday problem for too many families across the country including mine. Now we know so much more because of what we’ve been through as a family, it’s scary how little people know about the devastating health impacts of dirty air, and specifically on a child’s breathing.”
Sarah Woolnough, CEO of Asthma + Lung UK, said:
“Our lungs are the innocent bystanders being done significant damage by air pollution. As our new research worryingly shows, millions of us are affected by dirty air, regardless of whether you have a diagnosed lung condition or not. Toxic air is a public health emergency leaving people fighting for breath and causing tens of thousands of needless early deaths every year. The health impacts of dirty air, such as breathlessness, can be devastating on people’s everyday lives.
“Tackling a problem as fundamental as the air we breathe requires the kind of bold government action that so far has been sadly lacking. Transport is key in the fight for clean air and that’s why we are calling on the government to deliver on our plan to help the poorest communities, whose lives are often most blighted by dirty air, to switch to other cleaner means of transport. More government investment will help give people the financial incentive to make that switch. With more awareness, government action, and the right targeted investment we can apply the emergency brake on air pollution and save countless lives.”
Anna Garrod, Director of Policy and Influencing at Impact on Urban Health, said:
“Air pollution isn’t just a public health crisis that causes tens of thousands of deaths in the UK every year. Toxic air is also a social justice issue, which most commonly affects those who contribute the least to the problem, including children.
“For decades, infrastructure has supported drivers. To save our climate and to protect people from deadly air pollution, now it’s time to support people to travel in cleaner, more efficient, cheaper, and healthier ways.
“Asthma + Lung UK’s new report is a valuable guide for government, businesses, and local authorities. It describes practical ways to reduce car use while not widening already dire heath, economic, and social inequalities.”
You can sign our online petition calling on the government to make the transport policy changes outlined in our new report at: Asthma + Lung UK petition.
For information and support on breathlessness visit our website pages on air pollution and your lungs and breathlessness or call the helpline on 0300 222 5800.
For Asthma + Lung UK’s report visit ‘Putting the brakes on toxic air: our transport plan for a greener, fairer future’.
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Notes to Editors
1. Asthma + Lung UK YouGov Survey 2023 Total sample size was 2,058 adults, of which 464 had said they were diagnosed with a lung condition. Fieldwork was undertaken between 16 - 17 March 2023. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+). Figures based on UK adult population size of 55 million people [ONS data]. 4.3% of 2,058 adults surveyed by YouGov said that air pollution contributed to their breathlessness. When Asthma + Lung UK applied the 4.3% to the UK population aged 18+, this equated to 2.3 million people in the UK.
For the survey, breathlessness or finding it hard to breathe, was defined as including unexpectedly finding it difficult or uncomfortable to breathe, feelings that you can’t control your breathing, finding it hard to speak or feeling wheezy. This may be short-term, such as if you have had flu, a chest infection, get breathless when exposed to an allergy or cold air, or longer-term if you have a medical condition or waiting for a diagnosis.
2. UK Health Security Agency (2022). Chemical Hazards and Poisons Report Issue 28 – June 2022. Reducing health harms associated with air pollution Available from: Chemical hazards and poisons report: issue 28 page 15
3. 95% of 2,058 adults surveyed by YouGov said that they thought the statement 'air pollution can cause asthma attacks' was true. Previous research from Asthma + Lung UK.
4. Lancet study on maternal exposure to ambient black carbon particles.
5. Asthma + Lung UK webpages on air pollution.
6. Defra 2021: The data for the levels of NO2, PM10 and PM2.5 air pollution in the UK are from the latest available data from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.