New report on impact of air pollution clarifies need for urgent action, says CIEH

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has joined calls for air pollution to be recognised as a key public health issue, after a new report from doctors revealed dirty air is killing more than 500 people a week.

Released to coincide with Clean Air Day today (19 June), the Royal College of Physicians ‘A breath of fresh air’ report says the links between air pollution and health are ‘undeniable’ and that air quality must be recognised as a public health issue, rather than a solely environmental one.

Among the shocking headlines revealed in the report are that the equivalent of 30,000 deaths are estimated to be attributed to air pollution in 2025 and the health impacts of air pollution are estimated to have an economic cost of £27 billion annually in the UK in 2019, and may be as much as £50 billion when wider impacts, such as dementia, are accounted for.

The report sets out 19 recommendations aimed at national, regional and local governments across the UK, industry, regulators, the NHS, clinicians and individuals in society.

Details of these recommendations and the report can be viewed here.

CIEH, as part of the Healthy Air Coalition, have long called for the UK Government to place more attention on the urgent need to tackle air pollution and adhere to its statutory duty to introduce ambitious air quality targets, as well as supporting calls for greater research and action on addressing air pollution.

Professor Jim McManus, Honorary Vice President at CIEH, said:

“Clean air is fundamental to our health and wellbeing, yet as this report highlights, air pollution remains one of the most serious public health risks, contributing to thousands of deaths every year and putting increasing strain on already stretched health services.

“We must act now to reduce air pollution to protect public health. We can and should go further to reduce air pollution, and the recommendations outlined in the RCP report are an excellent starting point for discussions on how we do that.

“Ambitious action is required now to reduce the public’s exposure to outdoor and indoor air pollution and this should start with the UK government introducing air quality targets in line with the World Health Organisation’s 2021 global air quality guidelines.

“As we mark Clean Air Day today, CIEH reaffirms its commitment to campaign for action in this critical area and support the RCP’s call for air quality to be recognised as a public health issue.”