Air pollution leads to premature deaths of more than 4,000 Londoners a year

Publication of data by capital's mayor Boris Johnson prompts calls for urgent measures to tackle poor air quality

Hélène Mulholland
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 30 June 2010 17.30 BST
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Air pollution leads to premature deaths of more than 4,000 Londoners a year
This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 17.30 BST on Wednesday 30 June 2010. It was last modified at 17.30 BST on Wednesday 30 June 2010. It was first published at 16.50 BST on Wednesday 30 June 2010.

Air pollution over London: Figures show that it is contributing to the premature deaths of more than 4,000 people in the capital. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

An estimated 4,267 Londoners are dying prematurely each year because of long-term exposure to airborne pollution, it was revealed today.

Those living in inner-city areas breathe in the most polluted air, a detailed breakdown of pollution levels in wards across the capital, published by the London mayor, Boris Johnson, shows.

The study of the health impact of high levels of fine particulate matter of a concentration level known as PM2.5 on mortality rates in the capital prompted calls for Johnson to introduce "urgent targeted measures" to address the city's poor air quality, which is the worst in the UK and among the worst in European cities.

Airborne pollution in the form of fine particulate matter emanates mostly from combustion sources, including transport, domestic and industrial sources, and aggravates respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. PM2.5 refers to particles of less than 2.5 micrometres.

Research shows these particles are likely to be inhaled deep into the respiratory tract and have a disproportionate impact on children due to their smaller lung capacity.

Poor air quality is considered to be one of the biggest public health issues now facing the UK. A report by the House of Commons environmental audit committee included evidence that showed pollution could be contributing to 50,000 deaths in the UK each year.

The mortality impact study, by the Institute of Occupational Medicine, arranged the concentration of fine particular matter per cubic metre into a table.

The ten areas with the highest concentration of particles are close to main roads, including Marylebone High Street, the City of London, Hyde Park, and King's Cross.

However, the low density of residents living in these areas means the number of premature deaths is fewer there than in other areas with lower levels of airborne pollution but higher population levels.

The most polluted was Bryanston and Dorset squares, both in Westminster.

A provisional analysis by the Campaign for Clean Air in London (CCAL) of the report shows that the boroughs with the highest number of premature deaths attributed to airborne pollution are in outer London. Bromley ranks highest, followed by Croydon, Barnet, and Havering.

The worst boroughs for concentration levels of fine particulate matter PM2.5 include the City, Westminster, Camden, Kensington and Chelsea, Tower Hamlets and Islington, with many of the outer boroughs ranking at the bottom.

Simon Birkett, from CCAL, said: "This report paints a shocking picture of the Olympic city. [It] makes clear the worst air quality and greatest legal breaches occur in inner London and near our busiest roads.

"For the first time,though, it shows that air pollution is a problem throughout London. It may therefore come as a surprise to some in outer London who thought air pollution was not their problem. I urge people to see what the health study shows for their local area."

Johnson has been criticised over his decision to delay, by two years, the third phase of the low emission zone – a key measure to reduce harmful emissions – which had been due to come into force this October under the timetable set by the previous mayor, Ken Livingstone.

The scheme currently targets buses, coaches and the most polluting lorries over 3.5 tonnes. Failure to meet the required emissions standards leads to a £200 daily charge, or a £1,000 daily fine if the charge is not paid.

Phase three of the scheme would affect 90,000 much smaller vehicles, including vans and minibuses, with a daily £100 charge to be imposed on those that did not meet the emissions standards.

Failure to pay would have incurred a £500 fine for each day the vans entered the zone, which covers the Greater London area.

The consultation on delaying the low emission zone had originally been due to be completed three days before the report on airborne pollution and mortality had been published.

TfL has been forced to extend the consultation until 4 July because of a technical glitch, but Birkett today called for extra time in light of the report's findings.

"TfL must extend that consultation by a further three weeks or more to allow Londoners time to see this health study and object to the delay of this important measure intended to protect people across London," he said.

Johnson published today's report eight months after he delivered the first draft of his air quality strategy for the capital and six months after he first revealed the figure of over 4,000 premature deaths in March.

London's poor air quality has been a source of friction with the European commission for some time.

Last week, monitoring equipment recorded dangerous levels of minute particles for the 36th time this year. Under EU rules, Britain is allowed no more than 35 "bad air" days in a year.

Earlier this month, the government received a second and final written warning from Europe to clean up London's air or be taken to the European court of justice and face fines of up to £300m for being in breach of air quality standards.

The warning was issued before the commission had time to consider the UK government's latest submission to secure an extension until 2011 for meeting air quality standards in order to avoid court action.

The submission, sent days before the general election, included London's western extension of the congestion charge, despite the fact that the traffic reducing measure is scheduled to be scrapped subject to a public consultation.

Johnson is seeking to remove the western extension despite an admission by TfL that its removal would lead to an increase in congestion and air pollutants in the area.

Darren Johnson, a Green party London assembly member, said: "The detail of this study makes clear the gradual and cumulative effects on Londoners' health of high levels of air pollution.

"Londoners really need this kind of information about the risks to their health and I congratulate the mayor on its publication.

"However, it does highlight how inadequate the mayor's plans are to reduce pollution and the need for urgent targeted measures, such as an inner London low emission zone.

"It is amazing that the mayor is still delaying key actions to improve things and actually making things worse with some of his policies."

Professor Frank Kelly, of Kings College London, last year told the London assembly's environment committee that the impact of poor air quality in effect "mimics" many aspects of respiratory diseases.

Kelly cited studies in California and the Netherlands that suggest the elderly and children were the most vulnerable to the public health consequences of poor air quality.

A city hall spokeswoman said the mayor took the theoretical figures outlined in the health impact report "extremely seriously".

"That is why he is investing around £250m a year on sustainable long-term measures to tackle air quality such as a cycling revolution, converting the bus fleet to hybrid, increasing the use of zero-polluting electric vehicles and introducing the new bus for London, which will be 40% less polluting than a traditional diesel model," she said.