Latest News Roundup

We opened the month of April learning that London has seen an improvement in air quality thanks to a variety of factors.

There has been more health findings, including identification of the modifiable risks for dementia (of which air pollution was one), the impact of air pollution on later life depression, and the links between colorectal cancer and air pollution.

Elsewhere in the world, Sao Paulo is planning to use data to plot public transport routes and China has been warned to speed up the environmental response to air pollution, to protect its aging population.

For parents and carers, there is further evidence to suggest that children's concentration suffers when they are exposed to air pollution, and with a study last month finding that nine in 10 planned new school sites exceed three WHO targets, this is concerning.

During April we also celebrated World Health Day to highlight the importance of clean air as a basic human right, and Earth Day, to shine a light on environmental conservation and sustainability, which both have an impact on air quality.

Key takeaway points this month:

• The number of people living in areas in London that exceed legal air pollution limits has decreased significantly since 2016.
• Diabetes, alcohol and air pollution are the top modifiable risks for dementia. If we make changes to these, we reduce our risk.
• All three forms (PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone ) of air pollution individually and in combination correlated with an increased risk for developing depression in later life.
• 120 new cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed in the UK every day - new study shows link between PM10, PM2.5, and nitrogen oxides (NOx and NO2), and CRC incidence and survival and an increased risk of colorectal cancer.
• Chinese air pollution related deaths projected to increase by between 116,000 and 181,000 a year from 2030 to 2060
• Study shows exposure to air pollution from traffic fumes may weaken young children's attention span, with boys being more susceptible than girls.

Read the full articles:

• London air pollution: https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/environment-and-climate-change/environment-and-climate-change-publications/air-quality-london-2016-2024
• Dementia risks: https://www.everydayhealth.com/dementia/new-study-identifies-the-top-modifiable-risk-factors-for-dementia/
• Depression: https://www-psychologytoday-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-modern-brain/202302/new-study-strengthens-link-between-air-pollution-depression?amp
• Colorectal cancer: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240421/Study-links-air-pollution-to-increased-colorectal-cancer-risk-through-DNA-changes.aspx
• China aging population warning: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/05/china-braced-for-rise-in-air-pollution-deaths
• Children's attention span: https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/04/19/is-air-pollution-sapping-your-childs-concentration-new-study-links-no2-exposure-to-attenti
• World Health Day: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day
• Earth Day: https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2024/