Recent research found that kids born in 2011 and later could have seven months shorter lifespan than the others because of air pollution.
The study found that if this age group continues to breathe the polluted air, they will die about two and seven months earlier than naturally.
The research of King’s College took a direction to investigate the influence of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter – the two of the most impactful causes of poor health. The results showed that the effects of their combination and such air pollution would have a severe impact on the population and life-expectancy in Birmingham.
The research also found that Birmingham, in comparison with Manchester and other larger cities in the country, is considered to have the worst conditions of all.
Researchers estimated the amount of money needed to get rid of air pollution. It’ll take around £190 – 470million for the yearly health bill.
A wake-up call to address air pollution
Polly Billington, Director of the UK100 Network, called this report a “wake-up call.” She said that the results are shocking and should mean a lot for Birmingham, but not only. The network also called the necessity of “clean air zones” across the city. Billington said:
‘We need to tackle this invisible killer, which is cutting the lives of children and causing health misery for thousands of adults.’
She believes that combined strengths from local councils and the central government can achieve their desire for “clean air zones.”
The research tackled everyone, including Simon Stevens, The Chief Executive of NHS England. He stated that he’s worried that more than 2.6 million children in England are exposed to toxic substances and polluted air daily. He added that this report was just apparent evidence of their lives being shortened.
He also said that, even though the NHS is actively working on reducing the effects of air pollution, they won’t be able to achieve massive results only on their own. They say, as Billington mention in her interview, that working together will be the solution for the whole country.
To address the issue of illegal levels of polluted airs in busy cities, Birmingham City Council decided to approve the request of so-called “Clean air zones,” and the project is planned due to 2020.
On the matter of air pollution, legal action will be taken addressed to the death of the 9-year-old Ella Kissi-Debrah, who died from a lethal asthma attack. The investigation will be concentrated on finding if air pollution could be the cause of her untimely death.
