Public health officials call for more action to cut tragic toll and misery caused by poor air quality

PUBLIC health officials have called for more action to tackle pollution in Sheffield after academic research revealed poor air quality was leading to hundreds of premature deaths.

According to Dr Jeremy Wight, director of public health at NHS Sheffield, levels of air pollution in the city breach both British and European standards and must be addressed.

It is estimated that more than 500 people die earlier than they should as a result of unacceptable levels of pollution, while others suffer a “lot of misery” as a result of the issue.

In the worst affected areas it is thought that a reduction in life expectancy could be as high as nine years, while the young and old and even unborn babies suffer ill effects.

In a report to be presented to the managing board of primary care trust NHS Sheffield tomorrow, Dr Wight calls for the organisation itself to cut the levels of pollution it causes.

But he also proposes wider work and suggests that health officials are more involved in the consideration of planning applications which could lead to a reduction in air quality.

Recent Department of Health research shows that, on average, poor air quality has a bigger impact on life expectancy than either road accidents or passive smoking.

A reduction in industrial and road pollution can lead to an increase in life expectancy of up to eight months, while eliminating passive smoking only yields an extra three months.

Dr Wight’s report to the trust says: “The most up to date evidence suggests that in Sheffield there are around 500 premature deaths per year which are due to poor air quality.

“A recent city council cabinet paper estimated the cost to the NHS in Sheffield of poor air quality to be 95m a year.

“Sheffield University research found six per cent of coronary heart disease deaths and 11 per cent of stroke deaths in the city were attributable to outdoor air pollution.

“The UK has nine air pollution reduction targets and Sheffield is currently missing three of these, particulates, ozone and nitrogen oxides.”

Dr Wight says that particulates and nitrogen oxides are of “most relevance” to the NHS because levels can be influenced by reducing traffic, which could significantly improve health.

He adds: “Although poor air quality affects the whole urban area, in Sheffield the busiest main routes are in the valleys close to the most disadvantaged areas in the city.

“In March this year, Sheffield Council designated the whole of the urban area of Sheffield as an Air Quality Management area for nitrogen dioxide and particulates.

“The city is required to have an effective strategy for air quality management in place by March 2011. This must indicate how improvements will be achieved and must be agreed by partner organisations.”

According to Dr Wight’s report, NHS Sheffield, one of the council’s partner organisations, will discourage staff from using cars to contribute to a reduction in air pollution.

But he says the trust will also look to influence the situation in a number of “indirect” ways, including formulating “potentially controversial” objections to developments, including large supermarkets.

The report says: “In view of the increasingly strong evidence attributing serious ill health and mortality to traffic related air pollution NHS Sheffield has expressed opposition to such applications.

“It is recommended that NHS Sheffield should support calls for changes in planning guidance, so as to require consideration of overall air pollution levels.”