As children play outside their homes in England's most disadvantaged areas, they are being exposed to hazardous levels of air pollution that are putting them at increased risk of hospitalisation with respiratory infections. The stark reality is that those living in the poorest fifth of communities face a 40% higher likelihood of being admitted to hospital for conditions such as pneumonia and influenza compared to their better-off counterparts.
A recent analysis by Impact on Urban Health, using NHS England data from the financial year 2024/25, reveals an alarming disparity in respiratory illness admissions. In the 20% most deprived areas of England, a staggering 1,941 out of every 100,000 children were hospitalised for such conditions, compared to just 1,380 per 100,000 in the least deprived areas – an absolute increase of 82%. When adjusting for population size, the poorest areas saw a 41% higher rate of admissions.
While the data does not pinpoint a single cause, experts warn that air pollution is a significant contributor to these stark statistics. Dr Gergo Baranyi, a senior research fellow at University College London specialising in air pollution, notes that children in deprived neighbourhoods are frequently exposed to dirtier air due to their proximity to busy roads and industrial sites.
Ben Pearce, lead on Impact on Urban Health's programme for the health effects of air pollution, calls the figures 'shocking' and 'appalling', highlighting how historical planning decisions have placed lower-income communities in harm's way. He stresses that tackling air pollution is essential for protecting respiratory health, particularly in vulnerable children who are already more likely to suffer from conditions like asthma.
Pearce and Dr Helena Clements, officer for climate change at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, urge policymakers to take immediate action. They advocate for legally binding targets aligned with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, prioritising the needs of children living in areas with high levels of deprivation. Dr Clements stresses that tackling air pollution is crucial for ensuring every child has a healthy start in life, as it damages developing lungs and exacerbates health inequalities.