Concern about air pollution in Scotland on the rise

Leading health charity calls on the Scottish Government to roll-out clean air initiatives across Scotland

Released on 20th June 2024

A new poll has revealed that over half (54%) of people surveyed in Scotland are concerned about air pollution, this is up from 48% last year.1

The survey commissioned by leading health charity Asthma + Lung UK Scotland and conducted by Opinion Matters of 1,000 Scots comes ahead of Clean Air Day on 20 June.

There is even greater concern about air pollution at schools, with 67% of Scots surveyed are worried about air quality at their local school, up from 62% last year.2

Air pollution can cause new lung conditions like lung cancer and worsen existing ones like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). When there is a sudden increase in pollution, it can cause asthma attacks and symptoms flare ups that can lead to hospitalisation.

There is an estimated 368,000 people in Scotland that have asthma with 72,000 of them being children.3

Air pollution near schools is particularly harmful as it can stunt the growth of children’s lungs. They also breathe more rapidly than adults, meaning they take in more pollution through their lungs. Toxic air can also cause asthma in children. They are often more vulnerable to air pollution because they’re closer to the ground or at face level with car exhausts – whether that’s walking or in a pram or buggy. 

Asthma + Lung UK Scotland is calling on the Scottish Government to do more to tackle air pollution outside the four Low Emission Zones. They want to see more investment in active travel, car free zones around schools and increased monitoring of air pollution that can be communicated as health alerts.

Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung UK Scotland said:

“With the majority of people surveyed in Scotland concerned about air pollution, it is time to see the Scottish Government look beyond the low emission zones (LEZs) and deliver policies to help protect the health of all Scots, especially those living with conditions like asthma and COPD, who are more susceptible.

“Exhaust emissions from cars contain dangerous toxins such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. No one should be forced to breathe in harmful pollutants.

“We all need to play our part to reduce air pollution, this can be done by driving less and walking and cycling more, and to do this we need sustainable policies to encourage more active travel and to make it easier for people to make the right choices.”

ENDS

References

  1. We surveyed 1,000 adults in Scotland and five out of ten (53.5%) are concerned about air quality in their local area. Combining those who said ‘Extremely concerned’ and ‘Quite concerned’ to the following statement: How concerned are you about air quality in your local area? 
  2. We surveyed 1,000 adults in Scotland and six out of ten (67%) are concerned about air quality at schools. Combining those who said ‘Extremely concerned’ and ‘Quite concerned’ to the following statement: How concerned are you about air quality at schools?
  3. Scotland | Asthma + Lung UK (asthmaandlung.org.uk)