Most are unaware of air pollution's impact on health

AIR pollution is not as bad in the North East as in some other regions, but it is still a problem.

- Giuseppe Bignardi

Even smaller cities like Durham, where I live, suffer from poor air quality near busy roads like the A690.

However, most of us are not aware of air pollution and its impact on health.

In the past air pollution resulted in a visible smog as during the 1952 Great Smog of London, caused by coal burning.

Nowadays, though, UK air pollution is caused by gases, like nitrogen dioxide, and tiny particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5).

Neither can be detected with the naked eye.

Modern pollution is invisible not just because it cannot be seen, but also because many of us are not aware of its consequences.

While the words 'air pollution' may not appear on death certificates, a recent report by the Royal College of Physicians attributes 30,000 deaths annually in the UK to its effects.

Furthermore, many people experience years of ill health due to poor air quality, as pollution contributes to many conditions including adverse pregnancy outcomes, asthma, heart diseases, stroke, diabetes, lung cancer and dementia.

The UK has maximum pollution levels targets that are not as stringent as those set by the WHO and, in reality, even lower levels are harmful.