It’s no big secret that air pollution is having an adverse effect on the health of the masses worldwide. It’s just that in some regions, there’s a significantly more noticeable and worrying impact than elsewhere. One of which being Bradford, where new research suggests that up to 24% of all cases of childhood asthma can be attributed to traffic-related air pollution.
Or to put it another way, one in every four confirmed cases of childhood asthma could be prevented, simply with better air quality.
On the whole, the results of the study – published this week in Environment International – determined that air pollution in general accounts for a huge 38% of all confirmed cases of childhood asthma. Echoing the cause of campaign groups across the country, the researchers emphasize the importance of more focused efforts to bring air pollution levels under better control.
“Overall rates of childhood asthma cases in Bradford are higher than the national average as were emergency hospital admissions for asthmatic children under 16 years of age. Traffic-related air pollution is a real concern to the community,” study lead author Dr Haneen Khreis said.
“Our team’s previous research has shown that children exposed to high levels of traffic-related air pollution have a higher risk of developing asthma. Quantifying the number of childhood asthma cases that are directly attributable to traffic-related air pollution has not been done in the past and as we show now, a significant portion of cases is largely preventable,”
“Our work demonstrates that while popular initiatives such as stopping vehicles from idling outside schools or providing walking routes away from roads are important, proposed solutions to mitigate traffic pollution shouldn’t be restricted to localised areas,”
“New policies aimed at reducing the effects of traffic-related air pollution need to target each link in the full chain of events – from traffic volume and type, to exhaust and non-exhaust emissions, to dispersion to exposure.”
Of course, the question as to how significant changes can effectively be implemented on a widespread basis remains difficult to answer. While local and national government offices alike continue to draft various proposals and creative initiatives, none have so far been given the official rubber-stamp.
From congestion charges to scrapping incentives to the mandatory retirement of vehicles of certain types and ages, the public as a whole hasn’t responded particularly positively to most proposals drafted to date. Primarily due to the fact that irrespective of the chosen course of action, it’s inevitable that millions will be left significantly out of pocket.
Some campaign groups have stated that any and all expense necessary in addressing air pollution issues should fall exclusively with the vehicle manufacturers themselves. Realistically, the likelihood of this actually happening is somewhere around zero.
Still, the study carried out in Bradford further illustrates the importance of taking direct action against air pollution, for the sake of current and future generations alike.
