About
Air pollution occurs when a range of harmful substances are released into the air from many different sources. It can have significant impacts on our health and our environment, both in the short term and over the longer term.
Overview
Air quality in Lewisham has been improving in recent years, with many parts of the borough seeing a noticeable drop in pollution levels. Stronger national measures to reduce emissions from industry, heating and transport have played an important role in this progress.
Even with these improvements, air pollution remains a serious concern. It is still recognised as a significant risk to our health, and many residents tell us they are worried about the quality of the air they breathe.
Across the UK, air pollution is the largest environmental threat to our health, contributing to an estimated 29,000 to 43,000 deaths each year due to long‑term exposure. This is why national legislation, and policies continue to focus on reducing pollution and monitoring its impacts.
If you would like more detailed information about specific pollutants and how they affect habitats and species, you can visit UK Air Pollution Information System (APIS).
Health advice
Breathing polluted air can harm our health. The UK Chief Medical Officer's 2022 annual repot on air pollution makes it clear that there is no truly ‘safe’ level of exposure. The effects depend on how much pollution you breathe in and for how long.
Long‑term exposure to polluted air can increase the risk of heart and lung diseases, including Asthmacauses NHS, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer. There is also growing evidence linking air pollution to conditions such as dementia, low birth weight in babies, and diabetes.
Short‑term exposure can also affect our wellbeing, causing irritation to the eyes, nose and throat.
These impacts highlight why improving air quality remains so important for the health of everyone who lives, works and studies in Lewisham.
Who is affected?
In the UK, air pollution rarely reaches levels where most people need to change their daily routines to avoid exposure. However, people can be affected in different ways.
For many healthy individuals, moderate pollution levels may not cause serious short‑term effects. But higher levels, or long‑term exposure, can lead to more significant health problems.
Some groups are more vulnerable to poor air quality, including children, older people, and those with existing heart or lung conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). People who work in, or regularly travel through, polluted or congested areas may also face increased risks.
In Lewisham, around 17,759 residents aged six and over were living with asthma in 2021/22, and nearly 4,275 were living with COPD. These figures highlight the importance of continuing to improve air quality to protect the health of our community.
| Period | Count | Lewisham | London | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 17,289 | 5.40% | 4.70% | 6.40% |
| 2021/22 | 17,759 | 5.40% | 4.70% | 6.50% |
| 2022/23 | 17,917 | 5.40% | 4.70% | 6.50% |
| 2023/24 | 18,124 | 5.40% | 4.70% | 6.50% |
| Period | Lewisham | London | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012/13 | 1.10% | 1.10% | 1.70% |
| 2013/14 | 1.20% | 1.10% | 1.80% |
| 2014/15 | 1.20% | 1.10% | 1.80% |
| 2015/16 | 1.20% | 1.10% | 1.90% |
| 2016/17 | 1.30% | 1.10% | 1.90% |
| 2017/18 | 1.30% | 1.10% | 1.90% |
| 2018/19 | 1.30% | 1.10% | 1.90% |
| 2019/20 | 1.30% | 1.10% | 1.90% |
| 2020/21 | 1.30% | 1.10% | 1.90% |
| 2021/22 | 1.20% | 1.10% | 1.90% |
| 2022/23 | 1.20% | 1.00% | 1.80% |
| 2023/24 | 1.20% | 1.00% | 1.90% |
You can find more information about Lewisham’s health data and our approach to improving wellbeing in our Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The strategy is currently being updated, and the new version will be published on this page once it is available.
Short-term effects of air pollution on health
Some people may experience health effects from air pollution even on days when levels are low. Checking the Daily Air Quality Index can help you understand current pollution levels and see recommended actions and health advice.
Long-term effects of air pollution on health
The following links provide information about long-term effects of air pollution.
Legislation
Air quality policy is shaped at an international level. The Gothenburg protocol, first adopted in 1999, is the key international agreement setting limits on major air pollutants.
These international commitments are then put into practice through regulations at EU and national level. In the UK, many of our air quality laws originate from EU legislation and continue to be reflected in domestic policy.
Together, these frameworks guide how we monitor, manage and work to improve air quality across the country.
The air quality strategy
The national air quality strategy, sets out air quality objectives and policy options to further improve air quality in the UK, in the short and the long term.
The strategy outlines the UK Air Quality Standards and Objectives, which have been set to measure the improvement of air quality.
Clean air strategy
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published the UK Clean air strategy in 2019 (pdf):
- protect the nation’s health
- protect the environment
- secure clean growth and innovation
- reduce emissions from transport, homes, farming and industry
- monitor progress
UK air quality limits
The air quality standards regulations 2010 (pdf) sets binding limits for concentrations of outdoor air pollutants that are known to have a significant impact on human health.
The national air quality objectives for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), PM10 and PM2.5.
WHO air quality guidelines
World Health Organization (WHO) updated it's World Health OrganizationWorld Health Organiztion, air quality guidelines in 2021.
This new document provides clear evidence of the damage air pollution inflicts on human health at much lower concentrations than the existing legal limit values for air pollutants.