Scientists Urge Inquiry into Unequal Health Impacts of Air Pollution

A group of 150 scientists, MPs, and activists, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, has urged the UK government to launch a national inquiry into the unequal health impacts of air pollution. Research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies reveals that lower-income areas in England consistently have higher air pollution levels than wealthier areas, and minority-ethnic populations are exposed to about 6% higher pollution levels than white populations.

Exposure to air pollution is linked to serious health issues, including heart disease, strokes, cancer, asthma, and adverse effects on lung development in children. Despite these risks, the UK lacks a dedicated mechanism to address these health inequalities. Air pollution can originate from various sources, such as wood-burning stoves and industrial fossil fuel burning, but traffic emissions, particularly from petrol and diesel vehicles, pose the greatest threat to clean air.

New data from the campaign group Mums for Lungs shows that in 11 English cities and areas, including London, Greater Manchester, and Birmingham, over 200,000 children were taken to hospital with breathing difficulties in 2025. Jemima Hartshorn, founder of Mums for Lungs, described the situation as an "air pollution emergency," emphasizing the need for urgent action to protect children's health.

A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs acknowledged the need for more action to protect communities, stating that the UK has ambitious new targets to cut harmful particle exposure by nearly a third by 2030. However, the call for a national inquiry underscores the ongoing challenges in addressing air pollution and its disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations.