Poor air quality contributes to up to 2,700 premature deaths each year in Scotland.1 It creates new lung conditions, worsens existing ones leading to an increase in hospitalisations and is linked to lung cancer, cardiovascular disease and stunted lung growth in children.
Since 2022 the Scottish Government has met its own air quality targets. These were based on World Health Organisation (WHO) guidance published nearly 20 years ago in 2005.2 However, in 2021 WHO updated their guidance, lowering the previous limits particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The charity is now calling on the Scottish Government to meet these more stringent and internationally accepted targets.
Analysis by the charity in their report ‘Clearing the Air: Transport + Lung Health found that a significant number of Scotland’s automatic monitoring sites were showing air pollution higher than the WHO recommended levels of 20 μg m3 for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and 10 μg m3 for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in 2023.3
The report also calls for greater monitoring of air pollution across the country, and backs calls to prioritise areas around schools, hospitals, care home and other places where vulnerable people live, work, and play.
A petition has now been launched with the Scottish Parliament’s Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee to call on the Scottish Government to adopt the new WHO guidelines to go further in reducing air pollution.4
In a poll commissioned by the charity and undertaken by Opinion Matters, over half of (54%) those surveyed said they were concerned about air quality in their local area, with this increasing to 67% when asked about air quality near schools.
By adopting lower limits and increasing monitoring, the charity hopes that data can be used to better alert people with lung conditions to protect themselves and prepare for respiratory symptoms during period of higher air pollution levels, while also alerting GPs, hospitals, care homes and school to prepare for exacerbations and admissions of lung conditions, like asthma and COPD.
Gareth Brown, Policy and Public Affairs Officer at Asthma + Lung UK Scotland and Chair of Healthy Air Scotland, a coalition of health, environmental and active travel charities said:
“We strongly urge the Scottish Government to align its air quality ambitions with the 2021 World Health Organisation air quality guidelines. Meeting the new targets isn’t something that can be done overnight, but we need a road map to reduce air pollution and give everyone the right to breathe clean air.
“Lower air pollution limits will better protect human health, particularly those living with lung conditions and those at risk of developing lung conditions.
“We are calling for automatic monitoring sites across Scotland, especially at schools, maternity units, hospitals and care homes. Live data and reporting should then be used to alert GP surgeries, hospitals and schools of periods of higher air pollution to protect the lungs and health of vulnerable people, including those with existing lung conditions. These alerts should also be communicated to people with existing conditions so that they can prepare for any exacerbations.”
Reference:
1. Chemical hazards and poisons report: issue 28; GOV.UK; 13 November 2024. Welcome to GOV.UK
2. What are the WHO Air quality guidelines; World Health Organization; 13 November 2024. https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/what-are-the-who-air-quality-guidelines
3. Clearing the Air: Transport + Lung Health; Asthma + Lung UK; 13 November 2024. https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/clearing-air-transport-lung-health
4. Update air quality standards in Scotland to align with 2021 World Health Organisation guidelines - Petitions; The Scottish parliament; 13 November 2024. https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE2123
Methodology:
The research was conducted by Opinion Matters, among a sample of 1,000 Adults aged 16+ in Scotland. The question was ‘how concerned are you about air quality in your local area’ with 54% of people saying they were concerned and ‘how concerned are you about air quality at schools’ with 67% of people saying they were concerned. Combines ‘Extremely concerned’ and ‘Quite concerned’.
The data was collected between 05.03.24 - 14.03.24. Opinion Matters abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Opinion Matters is also a member of the British Polling Council.