Letter: The human and financial cost of air pollution is too high to ignore

SIR,

Air pollution is the leading environmental threat to public health. Harmful particulates cause up to 36,000 deaths annually and cost the NHS and social care system an estimated £1.6 billion between 2017-2025.

The current approach of funding healthcare and pollution reduction separately is not working. Britain needs to adopt a new strategy to meet WHO air quality standards by 2040.

With an aging population, the NHS is facing profound challenges. Yet the system remains primarily a sickness service, treating illness rather than preventing disease.

Government must now take a more proactive role in preventing ill-health by monitoring and analysing particulate matter to bring dangerous levels down. Biofuel-powered vehicles, electric public transport, and low emission zones are all tools that should be deployed to mitigate the devastating effects of toxic air.

These measures are to asthma and lung disease what the sugar tax is to diabetes and obesity. Critically, the Treasury must begin to see reductions in air pollution today as a direct offset against healthcare bills tomorrow.

The human and financial cost of air pollution is too high to ignore. We urge the Chancellor to take action in the upcoming budget before more lives are lost.

Kate Barnard CEng, FIMechE, FAPM - Chief Executive, Enjoy the Air
Professor Sir Stephen T Holgate CBE, FMedSci
Ben Bradshaw MP
Alan Brown MP
Dr Philippa Whitford MP
Wendy Chamberlain MP
Mick Whitley MP
Kenny MacAskill MP
Clive Betts MP
Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville
Baroness Harris of Richmond
Lord Haworth