Impact of Air Pollution on Patient Health
Air pollution poses a public health risk, healthcare professionals can play a crucial role in protecting people’s health.
Air pollution is well recognised as an urgent public health emergency: it causes around 30,000 deaths a year, approximately 3000 lung cancer cases and nearly 10,00 new asthma cases in children per year. The social and economic costs are huge, estimated to be £27 billion per annum (in 2019).
It is a health issue that the health sector needs to address, with an initial focus on the most vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, children and those with heart and lung conditions who are at a disproportionately high risk from air pollution.
As some of the most trusted messengers in society, health professionals can play a crucial role in protecting people’s health – especially that of some of the most vulnerable people who come through the door of the health service every day.
