'Spikes' in air pollution cause significant short-term health risks, a new study finds

Spikes in air pollution trigger hundreds of heart attacks, strokes and acute asthma attacks in UK cities compared to days when the air is cleaner, new research suggests.

A study by King’s College London found there are significant short-term health risks caused by air pollution, as well as contributing to up to 36,000 deaths every year.

The study looked at data from nine cities - London, Birmingham, Bristol, Derby, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, Oxford and Southampton. It found on high pollution days - days when pollutant levels were in the top half of the annual range - there were an extra 124 cardiac arrests.

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The figure discounts cardiac arrests suffered by patients already in hospital and is based on ambulance call data.

Edinburgh has some of the most polluted streets in the country, in particular Queensferry Road, Nicolson Street and St Johns Road.Picture: Lisa FergusonEdinburgh has some of the most polluted streets in the country, in particular Queensferry Road, Nicolson Street and St Johns Road.Picture: Lisa Ferguson
Edinburgh has some of the most polluted streets in the country, in particular Queensferry Road, Nicolson Street and St Johns Road.Picture: Lisa Ferguson

The research also found there was an average of 231 additional hospital admissions for stroke, with an extra 193 children and adults hospitalised for asthma.

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Dr Heather Walton, health expert on the project at Environmental Research Group, King’s College London, said: “The impact of air pollution on our health has been crucial in justifying air pollution reduction policies for some time, and mostly concentrates on effects connected to life-expectancy.

“However, health studies show clear links with a much wider range of health effects.”

The figures were published ahead of the International Clean Air Summit this Wednesday hosted by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and the UK100 this week.

The UK100 is a network of local government leaders, who have pledged to help their communities shift to 100% clean energy by 2050.

Polly Billington, director of UK100, said: “Local government needs additional powers and resources to address this public health crisis, alongside a timetable for when air pollution levels will meet World Health Organisation guidelines.”

Although the research did not look specifically at Scottish cities, Edinburgh has some of the most polluted streets in the country, in particular Queensferry Road, Nicolson Street and St John’s Road.

From worse to worst

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The risk was found to be greatest in London, where high pollution days cause an extra 87 cardiac arrests on average, an extra 144 strokes as well as 74 children and 33 adults hospitalised for asthma.

Birmingham saw the second highest risk, with 12 more out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, 27 more admissions for stroke, and 15 extra children and 11 adults hospitalised for asthma.

Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, Oxford and Southampton saw between two and six additional out-of-hospital heart attacks on high pollution days.

These cities saw an uptick of between two and 14 extra hospitalisations for stroke, and up to 14 extra admissions for asthma.