Kensington and Chelsea: Air Pollution and Urban Health Report

This report investigates the critical urban health issue of air pollution in Kensington and Chelsea, London. It begins by outlining the reasons for its classification as an urban health problem, highlighting the increasing prevalence of diseases in urban environments and the significant impact of air pollution, including primary and secondary pollutants. The report delves into the urban context, examining determinants such as population characteristics, including age and migration, and the built and natural environment, including deforestation and traffic. It identifies and explains the public health consequences, such as asthma, associated with air pollution, and its implications on the general population. The report then proposes strategies and interventions for addressing the problem, culminating in recommendations for improving urban health outcomes and concludes with a discussion of the urgency of addressing this pressing health crisis. The report references various sources to support its findings, including government data and academic research.

URBAN HEALTH

TABLE OF CONTENTS
b)INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................1
c) Reasons for why this is an urban health issue....................................................................1
d) Explaining the urban context and determinants which look at to explain the impact on the
health issue.............................................................................................................................5
e) Identifying and explaining the public health consequences and implications of this urban
health problem that impact on the general populations..........................................................6
f) Strategies and interventions for addressing this urban health problem..............................9
g) Recommendation..............................................................................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

b) INTRODUCTION
Now day there are so many diseases prevailing in the environment of urban areas which
are affecting the health of various people. As various health issues are increasing the number of
deaths in Kensington and Chelsea so, it is essential for the government to take some strict actions
against the same. According to a survey conducted, it has been estimated that in 2050, 70% of
world population would live in cities (Manley, Boots and Wilfert, 2015). This would highly
impact the environment and increase the rate of health issue. There are different type of issues or
disease which are been faced by people in urban areas. These diseases include TB, diarrhoeal,
HIV/AIDS, etc. On the other hand it also includes non-communicable diseases which are cancer,
heart diseases, asthma, diabetes, etc. This report would focus on the impact of increase in air
pollution in Kensington and Chelsea on the health of people. Further, it covers the public health
consequences and implications of pollution over urban health problem that impact on the general
population on health services and on individual.
c) Reasons for why this is an urban health issue
Around the world, air pollution can be determined as one of the main issue which is
highly affecting the health of people in urban area. It occurs because of dust particles, gases, etc.
Mainly, it causes because of air becomes dirty (Dowdle, and Hopkins, 2014). In this context, the
things which pollute the air are known as pollutants and there are types of pollutants which are as
follows: Primary pollutants: There are the type of particles or gases which are been pumped into
air. Primary pollutants include carbon monoxide which is caused from vehicles, sulphur
dioxide which is caused from combustion of coal.
 Secondary pollutants: This occurs when pollutants of air get mixed up in a chemical
reaction and this result in more dangerous chemical. One of the best examples for
secondary pollutant is Photochemical smog.
This area of study is very important and it has to be considered to be very essential issues
as it causes many urban health related problems (Tanner and Harpham, 2014). With this respect,
some dangerous chemicals like vinyl chloride or benzene causes birth defects, nerve damage,
brain damage, lungs infection, cancer, etc. In addition to this, in some of the cases, there are
chances that because of breathing such chemical cause even death. Further, contaminated air can
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make nose and eyes to burn and it may also create issue in respiration, increase problems to
asthma patients. According to a research conducted, it has been found that air pollution which
are been caused due to power plant, factories and cars has resulted in asthma attacks.
In Europe, Kensington and Chelsea is one of the most polluted cities. This has resulted in
reducing the average life expectancy, diabetes and breast cancer. Main cause of air pollution in
Kensington and Chelsea is because of vehicles (Engstrom, Ofiesh and Weeks, 2013). London is
the second most visited city around the world and it has been crowned to be the most innovative
global city. Further, it has also been awarded to be the most polluted city in the world. With this
respect, it has been found that 50% of nitrogen dioxide is cited city is due to traffic. As per the
data, it can be stated that about 2800 people of Kensington and Chelsea die because of air
pollution. Moreover, this has caused in child development and it has been found that 30% of
asthma in children.
Air pollution is been caused because of both natural and human actions. Some of the
reasons because of natural events pollute the air is wind erosion, forest fire, natural radioactivity,
etc. On the other hand human, activities which result in air pollution are as follows:
Manufacturing and industries activities:
In most of the companies or factories the use of coal has been raised. When coal is burnt,
it makes lot of smoke because of which air is been polluted. It was 200 years ago when industrial
revolution started in Britain (Caiaffa, Friche and Kano, 2014). This raised the issue of pollution
and this also affected the climatic condition of Kensington and Chelsea. Together with fog and
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Illustration 1: Industry pollution

smoke, it creates smog. Further, smog became one of the main issues which caused in winter.
Cold weather increased the use of coal in order to warm up factories. It was in the year 1952
when Greater London Smog occurred and this became a reason for 4000 deaths and in
Kensington and Chelsea, about 2590 people died. After this incident, new laws were developed
so as to protect health of people (Chandola, 2012). Further, law encouraged people to use less
coal so that air may not get polluted.
Burning fossil fuel:
There are about 230000 lakh vehicles which are on the roads of Kensington and Chelsea
and among these, 200000 are cars. The fuels which are been in it are mainly diesel and petrol,
these release a lot of pollution in air and these gases are very harmful for children (Cerin, Sit and
Chan, 2013). In this context, there are mainly four type of gases which are been released in air
because of vehicles. These as follows:
Nitrogen oxides: This gas is mainly caused because of power stations and vehicles. This
is the gas because of which acid rain occurs.
Particulates: These are tiny particles, for example fumes, soot and dust which are been
released in air.
Carbon monoxide: This is a type of gas which pollutes the air highly. Further, it has nor
smells or colour of its own.
Hydrocarbons: This type of gas is formed when petrol is not been burnt fully. This can
also be determined to be modern day smog (Deo, Topp and Swann, 2012).
Farming and household chemicals: In order to grow the crop properly and in protecting
it from any type of insects, farmers make use of different type of chemicals and these chemicals
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Illustration 2: Pollution through vehicles

causes air pollution. These types of chemicals are very harmful for children's it affects their
immune system. Pollution which caused inside homes are known as indoor air pollution. This is
caused by fresh paint, burning or gas or coal, etc. (McCaughtry, Martin and Shen, 2012). Apart
from all these, one of the main reasons in crease in indoor air pollution is smoking and there are
about 25,000 adult smokers in Kensington and Chelsea. This is creating many serious issues to
health as well as it is contributing effectively in increasing air pollution.
As it was discussed above, the impact of NO2 has increased the rate of deaths below
given data shows the emission unit limit which occurred in Greater London:
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Illustration 3: NO2 pollution in Greater London
(Source: Talking about Greater London air pollution, 2016)

From the above diagram shows that with the increase in NO2 also increases the risk of
diseases like lung cancer and asthma (Talking about Greater London air pollution, 2016). It has
been estimated that about 23500 people die in a country because of NO2 pollution.
d) Explaining the urban context and determinants which look at to explain the impact on the
health issue
In modern world, there are many reasons because of which the rate of air pollution is
increasing. Pollution highly gets affected because of different types of factors which highly
affect the health of people at Kensington and Chelsea (Conron, Stowell and Landers, 2012).
With this respect, following are the various factors through which the rate of air pollution
increases:
Population characteristics: People living in urban or city have different demographic
characteristics. Based on gender, age or any other disability status, there are many health issues
which are been faced by people. With this respect, most of the people have vehicles and they all
run with the help of petrol and diesel. These are those components which contribute highly on air
pollution. The changing life style has resulted in reducing making use of walking or cycling. A
major part of portion is covered by children in urban population. According to survey conducted,
it has been found that 50% children in Kensington and Chelsea are below 18 years. Children get
highly affected by air pollution (Freeman, Neckerman and Arno, 2013). In addition to this,
elderly people also get affected by the air pollution and they face serious health issues because of
which it may also lead to death. Migration can also be determined as one of reasons because of
which population increases. It has been estimate that in a year about 3 million people visit
London. People around the world visit Greater London and it results in air pollution. The number
of vehicles is already high and people from outside visit Kensington and Chelsea which is one of
the reasons of increasing pollution within country.
Built and natural environment: Kensington and Chelsea is a developed city and when
people want to make a house or to establish their business, then she tries to get lad by cutting up
of trees. Plants and trees are very helpful for the people to get oxygen and to decrease the rate of
pollution in the air (Thwin and Jahan, 2014). In this context, the rate of cutting of trees is very
high and is increasing the global market In Kensington and Chelsea, there are very few places
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when trees are planted, this has high negative impact over the health. Because of deforestation
the change in climatic condition is very high.
As discussed above, people of Kensington and Chelsea are facing huge changes in
climatic conditions and it is because of deforestation and increase in vehicles and pollution from
factories. Further, the rate of smoker are increasing at an increasing rate which is resulting indoor
air pollution. The smoke which is been produced through cigarettes has high negative impact
over the health and it results in cancer and other health issues (Liu and Núñez, 2014). In addition
to this, when winter arises, then in order to make their house or work place warm, people of
Kensington and Chelsea burn coal and it causes smoke which pollutes air which has its negative
impact over health.
Government of the city has developed many laws which are made in order to reduce the
impact of air pollution over increasing diseases. However, there are many cases which has been
found that the rule are not been obeyed. In this context, tastes and preferences as well as
expectations of people of Kensington and Chelsea are very high because of which the living style
of people has inversely affected the health and also resulted in many diseases.
e) Identifying and explaining the public health consequences and implications of this urban
health problem that impact on the general populations
There are many diseases which are been caused by air pollution. It has been found that
mostly elderly people and children get affected through air pollution. In this context, following
are the different type of diseases which are been caused on urban health of Kensington and
Chelsea because of air pollution:
Asthma: The main reason because of which asthma occurs is air pollution. It is caused
because of pollution occurred due to car, power plants or factories. It has been found that about
12% of total population of Kensington and Chelsea have been diagnosed with asthma. In
addition to this, on an average it has been estimated that 2 children in a class room have asthma
(Asthma statistics, 2012). This mainly caused by toxic cloud which make the person to breath
properly. Because of air pollution, it becomes very difficult to breath and inhaling harmful gases
blocks the person to breathe properly. This has resulted in decrease of average life expectancy.
On an average, about 1 people die every day because of asthma.
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From the data which is shown in the above diagram, it can be stated that every year the
rate of asthma patient are increasing at an increasing rate. In Kensington and Chelsea, main
reason for this increase is because of air pollution which is caused by vehicles.
Lung cancer: This is another disease which is caused by air pollution. This is mainly
caused because of abnormal cells in both lungs. Slowly, abnormal cells would develop into
tumours. In 2013, 28% of deaths in Kensington and Chelsea is because of cancer and there are
about 40 cases that are diagnosed every day. It has been also found that children below 15 year
are also affected by lung cancer (Kuhns, Kwon and Mustanski, 2015). There are many cases in
which lungs do not have the power to inhale and lungs get affected. The primary function to
supply gets affected and it becomes difficult for the body to pump out blood. One of the main
issues in this case is that victim may not get to know about the disease even after he/she reaches
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Illustration 4: Number of male and females diagnosed with asthma per 100000, 2004-12
(Source: Asthma statistics, 2012)

last stage of it. In this context, it is very important for the people to have frequent check up so the
issue or problem can be identified.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD): This is another disease which is
caused by air pollution. According to data, it can be stated that about 1400 people have this
disease. This is a type of lung disease and has caused about 22% of deaths every year in
Kensington and Chelsea (COPD statistics, 2012). The rate of people suffering from this disease
is increasing at an increasing rate. According to a research it has been found that there was an
15% growth in COPD since 2010 to 2016.
From the above diagram, it can be stated that in Kensington and Chelsea, rate of COPD is
increasing rapidly. These are those cases which are been identified, however, there are many
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Illustration 5: Males and females diagnosed with COPD per 100000, 2004-12
(Source: COPD statistics, 2012)

cases which are not been identified or registered. As discussed above, it is important that people
have regular check up so that disease could the diagnosed and the person could be saved.
f) Strategies and interventions for addressing this urban health problem
There are different types of strategies which have been adopted by the government of
Kensington and Chelsea in order to improve the quality of air. With this respect, following are
the strategies adopted in Kensington and Chelsea:
Monitoring of air quality: City Corporation will monitor all the pollutants which would
affect air. According to the monitoring done, corporation will make policies which will be
helpful in improving the quality of air (Green, Fothergill and Ensminger, 2013). Further, the data
collected will be published on the corporation website which will enable for the people to get
proper information regarding the air pollution.
Political influence and commitment: City Corporation if fully committed towards
controlling air pollution in Kensington and Chelsea. In this regard under this policy it takes
several steps. Air pollution can be controlled only when there will be political will power and
support. In this regard City Corporation will try to find out options that it can capitalize in order
to carry out joint action with politicians in order to control air pollution. City Corporation will
give and take full support to some of the groups like port health and environmental service
committee etc in order to control air pollution from some of sources like ports and docks, etc.
(Kamndaya, Thomas and Kazembe, 2014).
Working with Mayor of Greater London: In order to reduce the emission of pollutants
from buses and other vehicles, City cooperation will work closely with Greater London authority
and will try to find out some of the measures that can be taken to reduce pollution. Further, City
cooperation will consider options that can be adopted in order to motivate people to use vehicles
that do not emit any pollutant. In order to fund its campaign, City cooperation will also try to get
help from Mayor of London and will try to receive more and more fund for its air quality control
program.
Working with other external organization: In order to prevent air pollution it is
important to focus on all those places and sources from where pollutants are emitted. In this
regard City cooperation will try to work with other external organizations that to large extent can
help it in controlling air pollution (Burgel, Gillen and White, 2012). In this regard, City
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cooperation will work with Kensington and Chelsea may business firms and will try to convince
them not to use generators that are operating by using diesel. City cooperation will also work
with Change London and will try to create awareness among people in relation to air pollution.
Hence, in this way, by taking the help of multiple organizations, City College will control air
pollution in Kensington and Chelsea.
Reducing emission from transport: City cooperation will promote use of bicycles in the
square mile. If people will use cycles, then to some extent, air pollution will be reduced in
Kensington and Chelsea. City cooperation will also implement policy of unnecessary vehicle
idling in the square mile to control air pollution in Kensington and Chelsea. City cooperation will
also adopt some measures to reduce pollution from taxis (Miles, Coutts and Mohamadi, 2012).
Organization will also work with construction and demolition industry to find out ways that can
be adopted to curtail vehicles trips to transport raw materials. This will reduce air pollutants that
emanate from vehicle.
Reducing emissions from new developments: In this regard, City cooperation will try to
discourage use of bio fuels which is increasing in Kensington and Chelsea. Rule will be prepared
under which only those gas boilers will be installed in commercial places that have Nox rating.
Nox emission from CHP which is also known as combined heat and power plant must be in a
limit that is prescribed in GLA document related to biomass and CHP emission. By taking such
kind of remarkable steps City cooperation will control air pollution in Kensington and Chelsea.
g) Recommendations
In order to improving the quality of air following are the recommendation which can be
followed: Growing more trees: As it was found that the rate because of which trees are been cut. In
this context, it is recommended that people plant more trees so that level of oxygen can
be raised. Further, government should take help of other organization and can also set up
campaigns with the help of which more and more trees can be planted and the quality of
air can be improved (Zablotska, 2016). In addition to this, it should be enforced by
government that every individual should plant a tree in this lifetime. This will enable to
decrease the rate of diseases which are been caused by the air pollution.
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