A new study by a team from the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies has found that higher air pollution exposure during early and middle childhood was linked to worse self-reported general health at age 17.
Using data from the Millennium Cohort Study, the researchers examined how long-term exposure to air pollution – specifically PM2.5, PM10, and NO₂ – affected the general health of 9,000 young people born in the UK between 2000 and 2002.
The study used detailed, high-resolution air pollution exposure data linked to residential postcodes collected annually over 18 years.
It was seen that those exposed to higher levels of air pollution between two and four years old had a 15-30% higher risk of reporting worse health at age 17.
Those exposed to higher levels of air pollution between five and seven years old had a 14-16% higher risk
The study’s findings also showed inequalities in children’s exposure to air pollution. Those from ethnic minority families and disadvantaged homes were much more likely to grow up in neighbourhoods with poor air quality. For example, non-white children were exposed to 51% higher NO2 levels than their white counterparts during their early years.
However, exposure to air pollution during infancy was not associated with poor general health in the total population. The association only became apparent when models were stratified by socioeconomic status, suggesting that other factors such as like prenatal exposures or access to healthcare may play important roles.
Lead author, Dr Gergo Baranyi (UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies) said: ‘Our new study adds vital new evidence about the importance of the early years for children’s health and development. Using nationally representative information with linked geodata, our findings confirm that there is a sensitive window when children are more vulnerable to air pollution with long-lasting impacts on their general health into late adolescence.
‘Emerging research shows that children living in polluted areas are at higher risk of respiratory diseases, high blood pressure, obesity, mental health problems and lower cognitive function. For disadvantaged and ethnic minority children, the impact of environmental hazards might be particularly detrimental.
‘Despite air pollution levels dropping significantly in the UK in the past 20 years, we found that disadvantaged and ethnic minority children were exposed to much higher levels of pollution. These inequalities persisted across their childhood. Long-term exposure to air pollution can lead to developing chronic conditions in childhood which may harm their health across the whole life course.
‘Policies reducing concentrations of air pollution below recognised World Health Organisation guideline limits may have long-term benefits, especially for children whose developmental years are such a critical period. High pollution levels in disadvantaged areas should be especially targeted to remedy evident socioeconomic inequalities in air quality and general health.’
The full research can be read here.
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