Toxic air can impact every major organ in the body, shorten lives, contribute towards chronic illness and put people more at risk from Covid, according to an environmental charity.
Global Action Plan has warned polluted air can inflame the lining of lungs, moving into the bloodstream ending up in the heart and brain, causing lung disease, heart disease, dementia, strokes, and cancer as it releases new resources to mark Clean Air Day (16 June).
It has also published the results of a survey of public attitudes and behaviours around air pollution, which it commissioned with Opinium.
The survey found nearly half (49%) of Brits think air pollution is connected to worsening of asthma symptoms and 46% to the development of asthma.
A similar number (44%) also rightly connect it to poor lung function development, 42% to bronchitis, and 35% to lung cancer, but only 12% of Brits associate it with strokes, 10% with dementia, and 18% poor brain development.
This year’s Clean Air Day campaign showcases the simple steps people can all take to reduce the air pollution, and the positive impact those steps will have, both for the individuals concerned and the wider community.
As part of the campaign, Global Action Plan is promoting the primary action of walking for shorter journeys, for those who can.
A quarter (25%) of journeys in England are under one mile, so for those who are able, swapping the car to walk can make a difference. The charity has also launched its first ever walking toolkit to motivate Brits whilst out walking.
The charity has also launched the ICS Framework in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim UK and Ireland this week, which is a free healthcare tool, designed to help NHS leaders tackle air pollution.
Larissa Lockwood, director of clean air at Global Action Plan said air pollution puts the health of “our whole body at risk”.
“With a growing evidence base, we are able to talk even more clearly about the health harms that air pollution causes for everyone, not just those who are vulnerable,” she added.
“But we want the public to know that there is hope – simple actions do have a positive impact on our health and our communities. By asking those who can, to ditch the car for short journeys this Clean Air Day, we hope to inspire and normalise walking and cycling for short trips.”
Earlier this week, the charity Asthma + Lung UK published a report which claimed toxic air could be triggering lung conditions and asthma attacks for millions of Brits.
According to the report, more than half (53%) of people with asthma and 47% of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) say toxic air is a trigger for their symptoms which can include a tight chest, coughing and breathlessness.
When applied to the U.K’s general population of people with asthma and COPD, the charity estimates this could equate to as many as 3.4 million people who are affected.
“We are urging the government to commit to bolder clean air targets in the upcoming Environment Act and to improve air pollution alerts including public awareness,” said the charity’s chief executive, Sarah Woolnough.
“Anyone concerned about air pollution can make their voice heard by completing the public consultation form on our website.”