Air pollution kills four times more NI people than road crashes and drugs combined, stats suggest

Air pollution kills four times as many people in Northern Ireland than road crashes and drugs combined. And now the issue is troubling growing numbers of the public with campaigners urging the Executive to enact a plan to tackle it.

It comes after a new poll commissioned by Asthma + Lung Northern Ireland uncovered an 18% jump in air pollution concerns.

Air pollution kills around 900 people in Northern Ireland each year according to a 2023 Queen’s University study. That’s 1,167% more than the 71 people killed on the roads in 2022 and 484% more than the 154 people lost to drugs.

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But four years after the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs published a discussion document on a Clean Air Strategy, there is still no plan in place.

Air pollution can cause cancer and worsen existing illnesses like asthma and COPD but it’s particularly harmful to children and can stunt the growth of their lungs and impair brain development.

Of the 1,000 people polled by Opinion Matters, three quarters (76%) were concerned about air pollution at schools, a jump from 63% last year.

Joseph Carter, Chair of Healthy Air NI and Head of Asthma + Lung UK NI said: “Lungs of young people are especially vulnerable to the impacts of toxic air.

“Harmful air pollution particles can penetrate deeply into the lungs of children, which have been shown to lead to stunted lung growth and can worsen asthma in children. This is unacceptable, and we now need bold action from our politicians.”

An estimated 126,000 people in Northern Ireland have asthma with 36,000 of them just children. That’s why Asthma + Lung Northern Ireland and Healthy Air Northern Ireland are calling on the Executive to send a clear message about its commitments to pubic health and the environment with clear targets and obligations for departments to provide better air quality.

They would also like to see a Northern Ireland Clean Air Act that would enshrine in law the 2021 World Health Organisation air quality guidelines, reform air pollution monitoring, tackle domestic burning, tackle idling outside schools and reduce air pollution.

Mr Carter added: “Along with our Healthy Air NI members we recently met Minister Andrew Muir MLA, and we are looking forward to working with his Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to ensure this strategy is strong, can be appropriately implemented and positively impact people’s health and well-being.”

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said: "The draft Clean Air Strategy has not been to the Executive to seek agreement to issue a public consultation. It is my intention to carry out a public consultation on the final draft of the Clean Air Strategy as soon as it has been finalised by my Department."

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