Parents and experts have urged the Government to clean up polluted air for the millions of Britons with lung conditions such as asthma and cystic fibrosis. An estimated 12 million people in the UK have a lung condition, including lung cancer and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), with respiratory issues being one of the three leading causes of death. Outdoor air pollution, particularly from vehicle emissions, increases the risk of lung disease flare-ups, accelerates the reduction in lung function, and raises the likelihood of lung infections, especially for cystic fibrosis sufferers.
Impact on Cystic Fibrosis Patients
Since 2019, the Express has championed the cause of over 11,000 Britons with cystic fibrosis (CF), a life-limiting genetic disease that causes sticky mucus to clog the lungs. Air pollution can affect any sufferer of a lung condition, but CF patients are particularly vulnerable. The Cystic Fibrosis Trust's new report, 'Air Quality and Cystic Fibrosis: A Pragmatic Review', urges more action to tackle dirty air in towns and cities to improve Britain's lung health.
Ben and Alix Oxlade-Parker, both 33, live in the East Riding of Yorkshire with their two children, Henry and Rufus. They moved to the coast for three-year-old Rufus's health due to his CF. The couple explained: "We'd read about surfers in Australia being way healthier, not just because they were active but because of the sea air. We moved here for his health and incorporated being on the beach, no matter the time of year, as part of his physio. We noticed straight away he was getting fewer colds. We're lucky we had the opportunity to move - not everybody has that. We need meaningful changes."
Parents' Fears and Lifestyle Changes
Catherine Farrer and her partner Giles, of East Dulwich, South-East London, are always wary of anything impacting 11-year-old daughter Kate's lung health since she was diagnosed with CF as a baby. Mum-of-two Catherine, 42, said: "Having a child with a chronic lung condition, you have to think about what is best for them. One of the things that we do for Kate getting to school is we always walk on back roads to avoid the busy road where the school is located. Everybody should be entitled to have clean air and it shouldn't really be up to people campaigning."
Scientific Evidence and Report Findings
Compiled with the York Health Economics Forum, the new report claims outdoor air pollution, like vehicle emissions, causes a faster reduction in lung function and a higher risk of developing infections. The charity has also supported research at Imperial College London investigating the impact of air pollution on lung function. Ben Barratt, Professor of Environmental Exposures and Public Health at Imperial College London, said: "Every improvement we make to air quality will have a beneficial effect on the health of the population. This is particularly true for those who are vulnerable to air pollution. So we always need more legislation to improve environmental conditions."
The extra sticky mucus that clogs a CF sufferer's lungs makes it easier for bacteria to get stuck and spark a dangerous infection, often requiring antibiotics. The Cystic Fibrosis Trust wants a commitment to clean air policies, including strengthening air quality standards and monitoring, along with stricter regulations on outdoor pollutants.
Progress and Life Expectancy
The Express started campaigning for CF sufferers in February 2019, and the fourth 'next-gen' CF drug Alyftrek has begun to roll out across Britain. In 1997, the average life expectancy for those born with CF was 31 years; in 2010, it was 39 years. In recent years, it has soared to 66, thanks mainly to these new treatments.
David Ramsden, Cystic Fibrosis Trust Chief Executive, said: "Poor air quality continues to be the biggest environmental risk to public health and those who are already vulnerable, like people with CF, are most affected. As our new report shows, poor air quality is causing a decline in people with CF's lung function – leading to more time in hospital. Urgent action is needed to ensure clean air is at the top of the agenda."
Broader Health Impacts
Last year, a Royal College of Physicians (RCP) report claimed air pollution contributed to the equivalent of 30,000 deaths in the UK annually and cost more than £27 billion a year. The RCP study warned of the "significant health impacts of toxic air even at low concentrations, including on foetal development, cancer, heart disease, stroke, mental health conditions and dementia." Dr Mumtaz Patel, president of the Royal College of Physicians, said: "Air pollution can no longer be seen as just an environmental issue – it's a public health crisis. We are losing tens of thousands of lives every year to something that is mostly preventable."
Government Response
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) responded to the report with a spokesperson stating: "Poor air quality has a serious impact on people with lung conditions like CF and costs the NHS millions in additional treatments each year. That is why the government is taking action to improve air quality and help people protect themselves. We launched the first phase of our new air quality alert system in May, allowing people to sign up for localised alerts when pollution levels are forecast to be high, with further enhancements live by the end of July."
