Ethnic minorities in England 3 times more likely to live in areas with ‘very high' air pollution: Report

By Karim El-Bar

LONDON (AA) - A new study found that ethnic minorities in England are over three times more likely to live in areas with “very high" air pollution, according to the Guardian on Tuesday.

The research was carried out by Friends of the Earth, who analyzed government data on air pollution, focusing on nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and small particulate matter (PM2.5).

In areas where NO2 and PM2.5 are double World Health Organization guidelines, ethnic minorities made up almost half the population.

Areas with the cleanest air were whitest, with less than 5% being ethnic minorities.

Transport emissions, especially from vehicles running on diesel, are the primary source of NO2 emissions, and wood burning, industrial processes and traffic, including dust from tire and brake wear, are the main sources of particulates.

These emissions lead to a variety of health problems, such as an increased risk of heart attacks, cancer, and strokes – and the research by Friends of the Earth shows ethnic minorities are more at risk due to living in areas with high air pollution.

Friends of the Earth also found in their search that half of the areas with high air pollution were in the bottom 30% of the most deprived neighborhoods. Also, 1 million children and 1,737 schools were in areas with very high air pollution.

“It’s a scandal that more than a million children and young people in England live in areas where average air pollution levels are twice World Health Organization guidelines for either or both of two of the deadliest pollutants,” said Jenny Bates, Friend of the Earth’s air pollution campaigner.

World Health Organization pollution limits are tougher than the UK’s, but Britain recently proposed tightening up its laws. Friends of the Earth are calling on the British government to go further and faster in limiting air pollution.