Air pollution is a silent killer. In 2021 alone, it killed 8.1 million, becoming the second leading risk factor for death globally, causing illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer. The UK has relatively good air quality compared to other countries, but in 2026, the annual concentration of PM2.5 — a harmful air pollutant — was still 1.7 times the WHO annual guideline. This broad statistic shows there’s still work to be done. However, the effects of air pollution are not evenly distributed.
This week, a letter from 150 scientists, MPs and activists has urged Andy Burnham to launch an enquiry into the unequal impacts of air pollution. But why are low-income families and minority groups affected more, and how can we remove the structural inequalities of air pollution?
The main sources of outdoor air pollution in the UK are road transport, domestic combustion (e.g. wood-burning stoves and biomass burning), and agriculture. These activities release harmful chemicals including nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. Particulate matter is released by biomass burning and vehicles and is one of the most researched air pollutants. It is small enough to enter the bloodstream when inhaled and is known to cause damage across bodily systems, especially in children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing health conditions. The letter sent to Parliament this week urged phasing out diesel and unnecessary wood burning, aiming to reduce these harmful pollutants.
In the UK, around 13 per cent of residents in the most deprived areas live in the 10 per cent most polluted areas, compared to 7 per cent for the least deprived areas. Low-income families are also more likely to live near busy roads and industrial sites. The poorest communities, which tend to have the lowest car ownership, are suffering the brunt of road transport emissions and are around 2.5 times more likely to develop Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and twice as likely to develop asthma. The issue disproportionately affects minority groups, with Black, Asian and other ethnic minority groups far more likely to live in highly polluted urban areas than white people.
Atmospheric scientists suggest a greater focus on equitable urban planning, stricter emissions regulations, and community environmental health initiatives in order to tackle this inequity. Uniform emissions cuts will not suffice in ending exposure disparities. Targeted interventions, which move the spatial distribution of emissions sources away from highly exposed communities are key to ending unequal impacts.
Taking steps to reduce the impact of air pollution on the worst affected groups will help to work towards Ella’s Law, a proposal which aims to make breathing clean air a human right and to meet WHO air quality guidelines by 2030. With millions of deaths a year, it is clear we need direct action to combat this growing problem.
Photo by Max Brown.
