Birmingham air pollution can reduce lives of children by half year

BIRMINGHAM: Illegal levels of air pollution shortens the lives of primary school children in Birmingham by half a year, according to a report, carried out by Kings College London.

The study examined levels of nitrogen dioxide and particulate pollution (PM2.5) in the city and observed that an eight-year-old child could die up to seven months early if exposed over their lifetimes to toxic air. The loss of life expectancy is worse in Birmingham than some other major cities in the UK including Manchester.

As a part of plans to curb the illegal levels of pollution in 38 out of 43 areas of the country, Birmingham is one of five cities required by the government to set up a clean air zone to reduce toxic air.

Research commissioned by UK100 – a network of local leaders across the country examined the impact of air pollution on mortality in major cities. The report, carried out by Kings College London, said the health cost of the city’s toxic air was £470m every year.

According to the study, NO₂ and PM2.5 are the two leading reasons of poor health from air pollution. It found that air pollution had the greatest influence in the most deprived areas; it also stated that men are more likely to be affected than women. In Erdington, up to 91 deaths are attributable annually to air pollution, compared with up to 59 in Edgbaston and 57 in Hall Green.

Waseem Zaffar, cabinet member for transport and environment of the city council, said that the results were shocking. “They demonstrate the sheer scale of the major public health crisis we are dealing with in Birmingham today,” he added.

“We are aware of concerns over delays and are carrying out work to develop key components of the system to support the Charging Clean Air Zones for January 2020”, said government spokesperson.