A group of 150 scientists, MPs, and activists, including Greta Thunberg, have urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to launch a national inquiry into the unequal health impacts of air pollution. This call follows research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which indicates that lower-income areas across England consistently have higher levels of air pollution compared to wealthier areas.
The same research found that minority-ethnic populations are exposed to air pollution levels approximately 6% higher than those experienced by white populations. The letter highlights that despite links between air pollution and conditions such as heart disease, strokes, cancer, asthma, and effects on children's lung development, the UK lacks a dedicated mechanism to address these health inequalities.
New data, obtained by the campaign group Mums for Lungs, reveals that in 2025, over 200,000 children were taken to hospital with breathing difficulties in 11 English cities and areas, including London, Greater Manchester, and Birmingham. Younger children were most affected, with more than 120,000 babies and toddlers admitted to A&E or hospital. In Manchester, admissions for babies and toddlers rose from 653 in 2023 to 1,072 in 2025.
A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs stated that air quality continues to improve over the longer term, but acknowledged that more action is needed to protect communities. They added that new targets aim to reduce harmful particle exposure by nearly a third by 2030, with progress driven by clean air plans and monitoring in collaboration with local authorities.