Emission reductions due to policy interventions have reduced air pollutant concentrations and health impacts of UK air pollution since 1970.

Research led by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology charted the levels of emissions of a variety of air pollutants in the UK between 1970 and 2010 — a period in which there was a raft of national and European legislation to tackle pollution. The scientists say their study is ground-breaking due to the long timeframe studied and the removal of weather factors from modelling, meaning any changes in air pollution can be directly attributed to emission levels.

They found that over the 40-year period, total annual emissions of PM2.5 (fine particulate matter), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) in the UK all reduced substantially — by between 58% and 93%. Emissions of ammonia (NH₃) fell by 17% between 1970 and 2010 but have increased slightly in recent years.

Based on these reduced emissions levels, the study estimated that mortality rates attributed to PM2.5 and NO₂ (nitrogen dioxide) pollutants that increase the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases declined by 56% and 44%, respectively, in the UK over the 40-year period. The estimated mortality rate related to pollution from ground-level ozone (O₃) — which can damage the lungs — fell by 24% between 1990 and 2010, following a significant rise in the 20 years prior to that.

However, scientists involved in the research stress that tackling air pollution in the UK remains an ongoing challenge. Nitrogen dioxide concentrations are still often above legal limits in many urban areas and levels of ammonia emissions are increasing.

Edward Carnell of the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, lead author of the study, said: «Technology advances over the past 40 years, such as the three-way catalytic converter for cars and equipment to reduce sulphur and nitrogen dioxide emissions from large power plants have contributed to significant reductions in emission levels and therefore improved public health. However, it is legislation that has driven these technological improvements.

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