Asthma + Lung UK take a stand against playground air quality

From 8am this morning, ‘Toxic Air Officers’ have been arriving at pubic playgrounds around the country, highlight the fact that the vast majority of them are situated in areas of poor air quality.

Asthma + Lung UK have found that 99% of the 43,000 playgrounds in the UK exceed WHO limits for NO2, and their ‘officers’ will be making people aware of that at playgrounds in London, Manchester and Birmingham.

The 1% with good quality air are to be found in rural areas, such as Rutland and the Isle of Scilly. 

Given that 1 in 5 households in London does not have a garden (1 in 8 nationally), playgrounds play an important role in providing children with exercise in a social environment.

The group have also produced a map (see below) which highlights the areas across the UK with the worst air. Manchester tops the polluted list with Bristol and the South East close behind. The West Midlands and London – the site of two of today’s other events – make up the top five worst areas for NO2.

We spoke to Asthma + Lung UK’s Clear Air Lead, Tim Dexter, who explained: ‘We’re going along with Toxic air officers and some warning signs, just to make sure that parents and people walking by understand what the issue is, the impact that it is having and the impact that air pollution is having more broadly on public health.

‘This isn’t about scaring people away from going to their local playgrounds,  this is highlighting the fact that it’s an issue right across the country.’

The charity recently commissioned research from YouGov which found that, while 80% of UK adults believe air pollution has a negative impact on children’s lungs, 56% admitted they were not concerned about the quality of air around their local playgrounds.

Sarah Sleet, CEO of Asthma + Lung UK, said: ‘Clean air is not child’s play – the bold action we’re taking today across several playgrounds in some of the most polluted parts of the UK is about raising awareness of the everyday exposure to air pollution and its impact on children’s developing lungs. Sadly, it is children who are affected the most by poor air quality, with the damage starting even when they are in the womb. From diabetes to dementia, the list of health impacts associated with our everyday exposure to air pollution grows ever longer. The UK has the worst records for deaths from lung disease in Europe, and it’s no coincidence that we also have one of the highest rates of childhood asthma here too.

‘No government would allow people to drink dirty water, so why should the air we breathe be any different? The government needs to introduce bold targets to address this issue that has life-long impacts on the health of so many millions of children.’

Jemima Hartshorn, Founder and Director Mums for Lungs, Mum of two, added: ‘Really it is heartbreaking for children and parents alike – you want to do the right thing and take your kids out to play but depending on the playground’s location, the air they breathe might be so polluted it will actually harm them!

‘The real issue is that the toxic air is making us ill – from conception until we die, we are all impacted by pollution primarily from diesel vehicles, wood burning, agriculture and industry. Severe illnesses such as asthma and cardiac issues are exacerbated and caused by the pollution. On behalf of children and parents wanting to breathe safely we call on the Government to clean up our air!’

Hugo Mann, London Campaign Manager at Clean Cities said ‘It is a sign of how much work there is still to do in fighting air pollution that children cannot enjoy playing in parks without being exposed to harmful levels of pollution, especially when the solution is right in front of us.

‘The research released just this morning highlights how the Clean Air Zone in Bath has significantly improved air quality should be a reminder to policymakers on a national and regional level of what is effective in combatting pollution.

‘Mayors must take urgent action for the next generation, clean air zones like the one in Bath have shown to continually cut emissions and improve air quality in every city they have been implemented. We have made progress in London but there is still a long way to go until clean air is enjoyed by everyone, no matter where you live, work or go to school.’