Exposure to air pollution in childhood impacts teen health

Study’s author says high pollution levels in disadvantaged areas should be especially targeted to “remedy evident socioeconomic inequalities”

Young people exposed to air pollution in early childhood are more likely to report poorer health in late adolescence than their peers, a new study from UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies found.

Researchers analysed data from over 9,000 individuals born between 2000 and 2002 participating in the Millennium Cohort Study. They cross-referenced home addresses with geospatial data on air quality – specifically levels of PM10 and PM2.5, and nitrogen dioxide generated by vehicles – and reports on general health at 17.  

The early years emerged as an especially sensitive period. Children exposed to higher levels of air pollution between two to four had a 15-30% higher risk of worse health at 17, compared to a 14-16% higher risk at ages five to seven.

Dr Gergo Baranyi, Lead Author, said the study “adds vital new evidence about the importance of the early years for children’s health and development,” and confirms “there is a sensitive window when children are more vulnerable to air pollution with long-lasting impacts on their general health into late adolescence.”

Jonathan Blades, Head of Policy at Asthma + Lung UK said: “Air pollution is a public health emergency. We know that children are particularly vulnerable to its negative impacts as their airways are smaller and still developing. Toxic air can worsen asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Some research suggests it can make people more vulnerable to developing these lung conditions too.”  

The effect of air pollution on general health was similar across ethnic groups. However, teens from ethnic minority backgrounds and deprived neighbourhoods tended to experience greater air pollution during childhood and report worse health at 17 than those from less polluted neighbourhoods.

Baranyi said such children are at higher risk of respiratory diseases, high blood pressure, obesity, mental health problems and lower cognitive function, and that inequalities persist throughout childhood, potentially resulting in lifelong chronic conditions.

“[The effects of] air pollution exposure in childhood…are permanent, acting to remove life choices from those exposed, furthering inequality.”

Jill Belch OBE, Professor of Vascular Medicine at Dundee University School of Medicine and trustee of UK Health Alliance on Climate Change said the study “underpins a key issue about air pollution exposure in childhood: The effects are permanent, acting to remove life choices from those exposed, furthering inequality.”

Blades said this study “highlights the injustice of air pollution, revealing how inequality takes root in childhood. It is unacceptable that children from ethnically diverse and poorer communities are paying the price of disadvantage with their health. Every child should have the right to breathe in clean air, regardless of where they live, which is why we are calling on the government to set bold new targets on air quality in line with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) limits.” 

Baranyi agreed that new policies reducing concentrations of air pollution below recognised WHO guideline limits “may have long-term benefits, especially for children whose developmental years are such a critical period. High pollution levels in disadvantaged areas should be especially targeted to remedy evident socioeconomic inequalities in air quality and general health.”

Belch said it is “imperative” pollution is reduced, and although “Low Emission Zones have a big benefit, they often operate in a confined area of cities, so need extending. The removal of diesel school buses and introduction of low pollution vehicles or retrofitting bus engines reduces exposure.”

Belch also suggested staggering low traffic areas around schools, enforcing no-idling zones around schools and green ‘tredges’ — like a living fence — around the school estate to further reduce air pollution.