Air

Poor air quality is the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK, as long-term exposure to air pollution can cause chronic conditions such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases as well as lung cancer, leading to reduced life expectancy.

Air pollution has a significant effect on public health, and poor air quality is the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK. In 2010, the Environment Audit Committee considered that the cost of health impacts of air pollution was likely to exceed estimates of £8 to 20 billion.

Epidemiological studies have shown that long-term exposure to air pollution (over years or lifetimes) reduces life expectancy, mainly due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and lung cancer. Short-term exposure (over hours or days) to elevated levels of air pollution can also cause a range of health impacts, including effects on lung function, exacerbation of asthma, increases in respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions and mortality.

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106-501 Port Talbot Steelworks Port Talbot steelworks, South Wales. Very heavy pollution here falls on nearby residential areas leading to increased illness locally. Particulate emissions are carried for long distances contaminating land and sea, 14 December 1990.

1062-514 Women's enviromental network block road at Highbury Corner, London in protest at pollution caused by traffic.Summer 1994.

World Naked Bike Ride 2010. Naked cyclists ride through major cities across the world.

1.076/245 Metal refinery pours smoke, pollutants and heavy metal particles into the pretty fishing port, Muros, Galicia, Spain 1992.

Friends of the Earth protest against air pollution caused by traffic, Trafalgar Square.27 Sep 1997.

Pulp mill, western Vancouver Island. Half of Canada's forest product exports leave the country in relatively unprocessed low value form. Despite the environmental loss little profit is made for Canada.

Friends of the Earth protest against air pollution caused by traffic, Trafalgar Square.27 Sep 1997.

ICI Wilton, Middlesborough. Flue gas emissions here have been responsible for a number of uncontrolled chemical leaks forcing the evacuation of the neighbouring residential areas.

Friends of the Earth protest against air pollution caused by traffic, Trafalgar Square.27 Sep 1997.

ICI Wilton, Middlesborough. Flue gas emissions here have been responsible for a number of uncontrolled chemical leaks forcing the evacuation of the neighbouring residential areas.

Friends of the Earth protest against air pollution caused by traffic, Trafalgar Square.27 Sep 1997.

Drax Power Station, Selby, Yorks. One of least polluting coal fired generators in the UK it is now being fitted with flue scrubbers to reduce sulphur emissions.

Cyclist with protective mask, London

Chemical factory flare stack, Antwerp industrial complex on the River Schelde. Thick clouds of unburnt hydrocarbons & other chemicals drift in the wind to fall over nearby city, farmlands & waterways.

1.06/612 Mobile air testing apparatus at major traffic intersection, Victoria, London.

1.076/242 Metal refinery pours smoke, pollutants and heavy metal particles into the fishing port, Muros, Galicia, Spain 1992.

1.0614/555 Flare stack burning off excess methane produced from the decomposition of household rubbish in the landfill site at Bletchley, Bucks. Used to generate electricity in some sites here it has to burnt to avoid dangerous buildup of explosive gases.

1.0605/222 Flare stack, Antwerp industrial complex on River Schelde. Unburned hydrocarbons, waste chemicals and particulates drift in the wind. In the background is Doel nuclear power station.

Smog from traffic pollution hangs heavily over Mexico City. Situated in a valley this area suffers from severe air pollution.