Air pollution ‘causes third of childhood asthma cases’
AIR pollution could cause a third of new childhood asthma cases in the UK, a major study warns today.
And as many as 45,000 children could be developing the condition as a result every year.
Traffic fumes, particularly from diesel cars, can damage children’s airways, causing inflammation which leads to asthma, especially in those who are genetically at risk.
Researchers examined asthma rates among more than 63million children, aged one to 14, living in 18 European countries, including the UK.
They calculated that as many as a third of child sufferers would be spared the condition if countries cut levels of PM2.5 pollution – tiny particles mainly produced by traffic and industry.
In the UK it could prevent 29 per cent of child asthma cases – or 44,895 a year. Cutting the amount of nitrogen dioxide in the air could also lead to a similar reduction.
Around 1.1million children are believed to suffer from asthma in the UK and air pollution has become a major issue. Research has suggested that air pollution is now responsible for hundreds of thousands of excess deaths across Europe, and that it may even be a bigger killer than smoking.
King’s College London recently found that children could have their lives shortened by seven months from continually breathing polluted air, while four in ten primary school children are forced to breathe toxic air that breaches World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.
The issue of air pollution and childhood asthma has been highlighted by the case of nineyear-old Ella Kissi-Debrah, from Lewisham in south- east London. She died from an asthma attack in 2013, but her death is set to be re- examined at an inquest to determine if it was linked to air pollution.
Researchers behind the latest study, from Barcelona Institute for Global Health, yesterday called for action and said governments should do more to tackle the issue.
Dr Haneen Khreis, who led the study, published in the European Respiratory Journal, said there was growing evidence that air pollution was ‘contributing substantially to the burden of paediatric asthma’.
He added: ‘These impacts are preventable. We can and should do something about it.’
That call was echoed by campaigners last night. Dr Samantha Walker of Asthma UK said: ‘It is outrageous that children across the UK are breathing in toxic air.
‘This research is yet another reminder that the Government needs to tackle air pollution as an urgent priority and commit to meeting air-quality standards from the WHO.
‘No child should face the risk of getting asthma or having a life-threatening asthma attack because of filthy air.’
Dr Penny Woods of the British Lung Foundation said: ‘The fact that the air in our towns and cities could be giving children a lifelong and potentially lifethreatening illness is disgusting and simply unacceptable.’ The charity is calling for Clean Air Zones and wants the Government to commit to WHO guidelines for PM2.5 pollution.
Professor Stephen Holgate, a special adviser to the Royal College of Physicians, said: ‘ This groundbreaking study confirms the massive impact air
‘Breathing in toxic air’
pollution has on childhood asthma, not only in making it worse in those who already suffer, but initiating new asthma in those who otherwise would not have the disease.’
Last year St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Chiswick, west London, cancelled outdoor playtimes to protect children from traffic fumes. Thousands more schools have brought in rules to try to stop parents driving to school.
A government spokesman said: ‘We are investing £3.5billion to clean up our air, while our Clean Air Strategy has been commended by the WHO.’