Charity action highlights the invisible threat to children’s lungs as new data shows that there are over 43,000 public playgrounds in Britain and 99% exceed World Health Organization (WHO) limits on air pollution [1]. Asthma + Lung UK calls on the government to set bold new targets to protect future generations following a lack of commitment on clean air legislation.

Tomorrow [Thursday 12 September 2024], the UK’s leading lung charity is taking a stand at public playgrounds in London, Manchester and Birmingham to highlight the life-long health impacts of air pollution on children. Toxic air takes a heavy toll on the youngest in our society – it stunts the growth of their lungs which can damage their health for the rest of their lives. Children are more vulnerable because their airways are smaller and still developing. They also breathe more rapidly than adults, meaning they take in more polluted air. [2]

ONS stats show 1 in 8 UK households does not have its own garden (increasing to 1 in 5 within London), and the vast majority of British children live in built-up urban areas [3], so they require access to playgrounds and outdoor spaces for exercise and recreation. The charity says with so many children reliant on these spaces to play, the government must do more to protect developing lungs from the threat of toxic air.

Jordan, 31, has severe asthma, and lives in a flat in Lewisham with her three children – Valentina, 11, Matthias, 6, and Yanay, 2.

She said: “I moved from Portsmouth to London six years ago to be closer to family, and it was the worst decision I’ve ever made, in terms of mine and my children’s health. The air pollution here is so bad that I’ve ended up in A&E nearly a hundred times.

“But it’s not just me I worry about. My son Matthias has asthma too and often wakes up feeling very wheezy, and my elder daughter Valentina also needs an inhaler, and her breathing issues are often triggered by being outside.

“I live in a flat and we don’t have a garden so during the school holidays we go to one of our two local parks twice a day which are both close to main roads. As a mother, I thought I was doing the right thing by giving my children some fresh air and a space to play, so I’m truly shocked to hear how polluted most parks are.

“We’ve just come back from Cornwall where my aunt lives, and the children didn’t need to use their reliever inhalers once. It is my dream to move there, as I know there is pollution everywhere, but in big cities like London, it’s a huge issue. But for most parents though, it’s just not possible to up sticks and move somewhere less polluted.

“I try and avoid the worst of it by checking local pollution levels daily on my phone and taking the children out to play early when there is less traffic, but the government should be making people more aware of how to protect themselves because the threat really is invisible. Politicians seem to take sewage seriously, so why aren’t they tackling the dirty air our children are being forced to breathe?”.

Recent polling carried out by YouGov for the charity revealed that 80% of UK adults surveyed think air pollution has a negative impact on children’s lungs. However, when asking parents how worried they were about the levels of air pollution around their local playgrounds, 56% admitted they aren’t concerned [4].

The day of action will see ‘Toxic Air Officers’ stationed at some of the most polluted playgrounds and open spaces in the UK. They will be at various locations in London, starting at Westminster’s Jubilee Gardens, Ardwick Green Park in Manchester and Moonlit Park in Birmingham during peak footfall and usage times to warn visitors of the health risks associated with poor air quality.

These risks include stunting lung growth in the womb and as they grow older, developing asthma as a child or adult and causing conditions in later life such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or lung cancer. Adults are also at risk, particularly if they have an existing lung condition. Lung disease is currently the third most common cause of death in the UK, costing the NHS more than £9 billion every year [5]. Toxic air is also increasingly linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dementia and poor mental health. In total, it contributes to up to 43,000 premature deaths every year in the UK [6].

Air pollution also hits the poorest and ethnic minorities hardest. In London, for example, people from black and mixed ethnicities are more likely to be exposed to high levels of air pollution. Increased exposure to high levels of air pollution in many deprived areas is also associated with the worsening of asthma symptoms.[7]

A map from Asthma + Lung UK highlights the areas across the UK with the most toxic air. Manchester ranks as the most polluted city in the UK and Birmingham also breaches WHO limits for the most harmful Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) pollutants [8]. Only 429 playgrounds (or 1%) in England comply with air quality targets set out by WHO – these are based in extremely rural settings, such as Rutland and the Isle of Scilly. [9]

The charity is asking people to show support for their campaign calling on the government to get behind bold clean air legislation, underpinned by world-leading health targets to safeguard public health and deliver clean air as soon as possible. Asthma + Lung UK wants the government to publish new plans to protect people from air pollution, improve public information on air pollution, set out findings and guidance for traffic reduction measures in key areas (around care homes, schools and hospitals) and commit to inclusive walking and cycling policies. Add your voice here.

The team at Asthma + Lung UK offers the below tips for those looking to reduce their exposure to toxic air pollution:

1. Limit outdoor activities and exercises to avoid breathing in too much polluted air

2. Go out earlier in the day when air quality tends to be better

3. Stay on quieter streets, avoiding high-traffic areas, where possible

4. Walk on the inside of the pavement, further from the passing traffic

5. Keep your car windows closed, particularly when in slow-moving traffic

6. Check pollution levels in your area. Defra produces a five-day pollution forecast.

Sarah Sleet, CEO of Asthma + Lung UK, said: “Clean air is not child’s play – the bold action we’re taking today across several playgrounds in some of the most polluted parts of the UK is about raising awareness of the everyday exposure to air pollution and its impact on children’s developing lungs. Sadly, it is children who are affected the most by poor air quality, with the damage starting even when they are in the womb. From diabetes to dementia, the list of health impacts associated with our everyday exposure to air pollution grows ever longer. The UK has the worst records for deaths from lung disease in Europe, and it’s no coincidence that we also have one of the highest rates of childhood asthma here too.

“No government would allow people to drink dirty water, so why should the air we breathe be any different? The government needs to introduce bold targets to address this issue that has life-long impacts on the health of so many millions of children.”