In an article by Lucie Heath, published on 1 April, 2025, it was reported that more than 23,000 schools have been identified in areas with high levels of toxic air pollution
The following is the summary of her report.
More than nine in 10 neighbourhoods in England and Wales have unsafe levels of air pollution, putting people living there at higher risk of heart attacks and cancer, according to new figures. Analysis of government data by Friends of the Earth, shared exclusively with The i Paper, found more than 33,000 neighbourhoods have levels of air pollution above the threshold considered safe by the World Health Organisation, with people in London worst affected. Around 95 per cent of neighbourhoods have unsafe levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) or particulate matter (PM2.5), which can cause a wide range of health problems in adults and children. The research identified 23,656 schools in areas affected by high air pollution, including hundreds of schools in Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester. Cornwall, Cumberland, Northumberland and North Yorkshire were the local authorities with the most neighbourhoods recording safe levels of air pollution. Meanwhile, according to the figures, approximately one in 20 neighbourhoods in England and Wales have NO2 or PM2.5 levels double those recommended by the WHO. This includes all the neighbourhoods in six London boroughs – Hackney, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Newham, Tower Hamlets, and Westminster – as well as the City of London. Outside London, the local authorities with the highest percentage of heavily polluted neighbourhoods were Dartford, Manchester, Birmingham and Great Yarmouth. Of the 23,656 schools identified as being in areas with unsafe air pollution, 456 were in Birmingham, 259 in Leeds, 194 in Manchester and 177 in Liverpool. Friends of the Earth’s analysis looked at the levels of NO2 and PM2.5 recorded in neighbourhoods throughout England and Wales between 2021 and 2023. NO2 is a toxic gas primarily formed during the combustion of fossil fuels. Motor vehicles are the leading contributors to NO2 emissions, followed by power stations. PM2.5 is the name given to tiny particles in the air that can be inhaled by humans into their lungs and even enter the bloodstream. These particles can become coated in toxic chemicals in the air, causing a range of health problems. Road transport and industry are the leading causes of PM2.5 pollution, while the growing popularity of wood-burning stoves has raised emissions in recent years. However, the research found that many living in the most polluted areas were suffering from problems caused by others, as neighbourhoods with the highest levels of pollution were also home to the fewest car owners. “It’s unfair that those least responsible for air pollution are most likely to face the greatest consequences,” said Mike Childs, Head of Science, Policy and Research at the climate charity. “The Chancellor must prioritise the switch to electric vehicles and invest in public transport in the upcoming Spending Review, which will not only help to slash planet-warming emissions but also improve air quality. This will benefit millions of young and older people who are particularly at risk of the harmful health effects of bad air.” WHO pollution limits are far stricter than those in UK law. The health body recommends an annual average of 5 µg/m3 for PM2.5 and 10 µg/m3 for NO2. The Government’s Air Quality Standards Regulations state average levels should not exceed 10 µg/m3 for PM2.5 and 40 µg/m3 for NO2. A government spokesperson said: “Air pollution is a public health issue, and this Government is committed to developing a series of interventions to reduce emissions so everyone’s exposure to air pollution is reduced. “We have provided £575m to support local authorities to improve air quality and we have launched a rapid review of plans to deliver our legally binding targets on improving air quality.” How air pollution affects your health Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, who died in 2013, following a fatal asthma attack, was the first person in the world to have air pollution as a cause of death (Photo: PA) Between 28,000 and 36,000 people die in the UK every year as a result of human-made air pollution, research by the Government has found. It’s estimated that NO2 and PM2.5 pollution costs the NHS £1.6bn per year. Long-term exposure to air pollution can cause a variety of health problems, including cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer. Children are particularly susceptible to the effects of air pollution, which research has shown can lead to asthma and developmental problems. In 2020, a south London coroner made history by listing air pollution as the cause of death for Ella Kissi-Debrah, who died of asthma in 2013. The nine-year-old lived within 30 metres of one of London’s busiest roads, the South Circular, and her mother spent years fighting to have the impact of air pollution recognised as a cause of death. London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, made the controversial decision in 2023 to extend the city’s ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) in a bid to reduce air pollution in the capital.