Burnham urged to launch inquiry into unequal health impacts of air pollution
Letter from 150 scientists, MPs and activists calls for action to protect lower-income and minority-ethnic communities The government must hold an inquiry into the unequal impacts of air pollution, 150 scientists, MPs and activists have urged. Research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies shows that across England, lower-income areas have persistently higher levels of air pollution than wealthier…
A letter signed by 150 scientists, MPs and activists is urging the government to investigate the unequal health impacts of air pollution. Research reveals that lower-income and minority-ethnic communities in England are exposed to higher levels of air pollution compared to wealthier and white populations. The climate activist Greta Thunberg is among the signatories.
Exposure to air pollution is linked to serious health issues such as heart disease, strokes, cancer, asthma and lung development problems in children. Despite this, the UK lacks a dedicated mechanism to address these health inequalities.
Air pollution sources range from wood-burning stoves to industrial fossil fuel burning, but traffic emissions from petrol and diesel vehicles are the leading threat. Initiatives like London's ultra-low emission zone have improved air quality, leading to healthier lung growth in children.
However, new government data shows that in 2025, parts of London, Glasgow and Bristol still have illegal levels of air pollution. Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, whose nine-year-old daughter was the first person in the UK to die from air pollution, criticized the "failure of inaction" by political parties, resulting in illegal emissions exposure for the UK population.
Data from Mums for Lungs, obtained through freedom of information requests, reveals that in 11 English cities, including London, Greater Manchester and Birmingham, over 200,000 children were hospitalized due to breathing difficulties in 2025. Younger children, particularly babies and toddlers, are most affected, with over 120,000 A&E or hospital admissions in Manchester alone, increasing from 653 in 2023 to 1,072 in 2025.
The air pollution emergency was exacerbated by Burnham's decision in 2023 to discontinue clean air zone plans in Greater Manchester, raising questions about the sufficiency of efforts to reduce pollution levels. Jemima Hartshorn, the founder of Mums for Lungs, called for urgent action, stating, "Behind every number is a child who is struggling to breathe and a family looking for help. We cannot keep treating dirty air as inevitable or acceptable."
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