‘Toxic’ air concerns raised in England by leading respiratory charity

OVER half (59 per cent) of people in England aged 65 and over are living in areas where harmful particulate matter pollution (PM2.5) is “dangerously high and could be damaging their lungs” – according to a report by a leading UK respiratory charity.

Also says the British Lung Foundation, over a quarter (26 per cent) of care homes in England and nearly 3,000 medical centres (hospitals and GPs) “are in areas where PM2.5 exceeds World Health Organization-recommended levels”.

Adds a media release issued by the British Lung Foundation: “[Fellow charity] Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation are  urging  the government to produce a  national health protection plan for England overseen by a newly-created air quality minister  to  safeguard those most at-risk  from the effects of toxic air.

“This plan should include training for health professionals and an alert system that tells the general public when air pollution is going to be high, which directly informs care homes and medical centres so that those most at-risk can protect themselves from harm.”