Greater Manchester is one of the most polluted places in the UK. Levels of nitrogen dioxide are reported higher here than anywhere else in the country, and well over the UK legal limit [1].
Nitrogen dioxide is a gas that is harmful to human health. A major source in our cities is petrol and diesel engines. Along with other pollutants, nitrogen dioxide affects lung function – especially in the old and young – and particularly impacts those with existing conditions such as asthma.
GET THE FACTS
- Greater Manchester has higher than average admission rates for childhood asthma, with asthma-related hospital admissions among 0-19 years olds almost twice the national average. [2]
- Both Salford and Manchester are in the top 10 local authorities for emergency admissions and death rates for lung conditions. [3]
- It’s estimated the equivalent of 1,200 early deaths every year in Greater Manchester can be linked to air pollution exposure. [4]
GREATER MANCHESTER DESERVES BETTER AIR
Take action now to get our mayoral candidates to sit up and take notice of our dirty air. Their policies and actions have the power to bring about real change.
- Email the mayoral candidates asking them to take action on air pollution if they’re elected.
- Share the campaign to help more people uncover the truth about our air – download our resources and spread the word.
- Find out more about air pollution and how we can tackle it – check out the map of Greater Manchester pollution levels.
[1] https://compliance-data.defra.gov.uk/datasets/c068f47c0695474b8d80694e181842ad_0/explore?location=53.516654%2C-2.652129%2C9.04 [2] https://gmprimarycarecareers.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/GM-CYP-Asthma-Presentation.pdf [3] https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/media/press-releases/uk-hotspots-emergency-admission-death-rates-lung-conditions-revealed [4] https://cleanairgm.com/air-pollution