Air Quality and Health Impacts in London

The assignment explores the air quality and health impacts in London, focusing on the effects of long-term exposure to traffic pollution and nitrogen dioxide. It discusses the impact of London's Low Emission Zone on air quality and children's respiratory health, as well as the prevalence of respiratory and allergic symptoms in schoolchildren. The study also examines the concentration of particulate matter (PM2) at different times of the day and provides a guide for public health professionals on air quality in Camden.

Urban Health

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
RATIONALE ..................................................................................................................................1
Profiling and description of Kentish town.......................................................................................2
Data observation .............................................................................................................................4
Data analysis and interpretation ......................................................................................................9
RECOMMENDATIONS ..............................................................................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................11
s......................................................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
The urbanisation, its population and development characteristics and health management
has great impact upon urban public health. Increasing development, unsustainable practices and
pollution has lead to rapid degradation in air quality. Air is one of the basic element which is
required for the survival and thus degradation in its quality is harmful for healthy and safe living
(McCarthy, 2018). The study will analyse the air quality in Kentish town in Camden borough of
London. The study will first analyse the area and health profiling of ward so that data
observations can be made more precisely. Further the observed data will be analysed so that
impact of air quality in the ward can be analysed and suitable recommendations can be provided
to improve the urban health.
RATIONALE
With the sick city hypothesis it has been assumed that cities are home of parasites and
individuals have to regularly trying to get rid of this disease causing factors. The better health
care facilities, education and resources provides an urban health advantage. However, for
economically backward people condition remains challenging worsen. With the rapidly growing
urbanisation and technologies poor quality of air is becoming a silent threat. It is making
impossible for the urban population to even breath clean air (Wood and et.al., 2015). The
polluted air is causing several chronic diseases such as lung infections, asthma and respiratory
diseases.
Thus, it is vital that air quality degradation must be considered as the urban health penalty
which must be addressed as soon as possible. The mismanaged development plans, poor
governance, ignorance to urban health and rapid investments are the key factors responsible for
the 'urban health penalty (Jimenez-Bescos and Prewett, 2018)'. It has been observed by
environmental statistics that London boroughs along with other 2000 locations of UK are the
worst in terms of air quality. The increasing cocentration of Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and
particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) in air due to road traffic is increasing lung irritations,
breathing difficulties and other climate change issues (Mudway and et.al., 2019). For this study
Kentish town of Camden borough is chosen because it has been observed that after Kensington
& Chelsea, Camden has the highest percentage of nitrogen dioxide. The poor air quality is also
linked with miscarriage, dementia, heart and lung diseases and thus is significant factor in
shortening lives.
1

(Source: Pollution map reveals unsafe air quality at almost 2,000 UK sites, 2019)
According to the statistics presented by Health and exposure to pollution, 2019 around 75%
cardiovascular admissions in hospitals were related to PM2.5 in year 2010. Similarly, approx
9,400 premature deaths in London were result of PM2.5 and NO2 based poor quality of air.
Thus, it is essential that air quality must be taken as serious emergency health concern.
Profiling and description of Kentish town
Kentish town is situated to mid-north-east of Camden borough. By 2017 the population
of ward is 14,400. The population density of the ward is 140 persons per hectare. On the basis of
average density of borough Kentish town holds 8 ranking. The average population growth rate of
2
Illustration 1: Percentage of nitrogen dioxide which degrades air quality in various
borough's of London

ward is slow and is expected to increase by 4,200 in the next ten years. Kentish town population
has mean age of 37.3 years and has relatively older profile as compare to other wards of
Camden.
(Source: Camden Ward Profiles, 2017)
The ward has small number of population which is below 17 years. The life expectancy
rate between the period 2010 to 2014 fro males and females was 77.5 and 81.2 years
respectively. The expectancy rates in Kentish regions are low as compare to Camden which has
expectancy rates 81.1 and 86.0 respectively in the same year. In 2008 when the population of
ward was 12,424 then around 6 deaths were the result of poor quality of air (Air quality in
Camden: a guide for public health professionals, 2012). As per the survey statistics of business
register and employment in 2016 the major employment providing sectors in Kentish town are
production (26%), business services, public services (17%) and construction and transportation
3
Illustration 2: Age and sex structure of Kentish town ward

activities (26%) (Camden Ward Profiles, 2017). The production, transportation and construction
activities have greater role in enhancing air pollution. Thus, the air quality control in the ward is
essential so that quality of air can be sustained and public health can be controlled.
Data observation
The air quality data was obtained from Kentish town high street on 7 July 2016. For
monitoring purpose legal standard of continuous monitoring and gravimetric technology was
used. On the monitoring site oasis was densely planted with small trees thus it was expected that
it will have lower pollution concentration. Along with this on the main street outside the tube
station a bus stop is also located which experiences regular events of transportation activities. A
green playground was also analysed in which smell of diesel fumes is also quite common. It was
observed that spikes of particulate matter (PM) were quick and high when diesel trains passed
through the region as compare to electrical trains (Grant., 2016).
At the sites of bus station as well it was observed that after immediate passage of buses
the rise in spike were higher. However, when small vehicles crossed bus stop small spikes were
observed. The observations were taken regularly for the entire day. It was observed that during
different working hours the elevation in pollution level was different. It depends upon population
density, surrounding vegetation or greenery and types of vehicles passing nearby. The statistical
values of PM concentration are as follows:
4

5
Illustration 3: Concentration of PM2 between 7-1 AM

(Source: Grant., 2016)
6
Illustration 4: Concentration of PM2 between 2.30 -4.30 PM

7
Illustration 5: Concentration of PM2 between 5-7 PM

(Source: Grant., 2016)
8

(Source: Grant., 2016)
Data analysis and interpretation
From the above observed data it can be interpreted that in the morning and eventing since
the traffic volume is low the concentration of PM is also reduced. However, during day time as
population density increases and load of vehicles is also high it gives rise to the pollution.
According to Jimenez-Bescos and Prewett, (2018) diesel based vehicles produces more pollution
thus in order to improve air quality their usage must be reduced. In the same context Halonen
and et.al., (2016) stated that the population of Kentish town is less than compare to other wards
of Camden thus the pollution level and quality of level in the ward is less degraded than others. It
has been also analysed that air quality has significant and diverse impact on vulnerable groups.
For instance children and old age people are more vulnerable to air related diseases as compare
to young age generation. Walton and et.al., (2015) elucidated that improper transportation
management is key factor for rapidly declining air quality. Thus, it is required that borough's
9
Illustration 6: Concentration of PM2 between 8-9.30 PM

must emphasis on reducing the harmful emissions from various devices so that elements which
are causing regular degradation and air pollution can be reduced (Burman and et.al., 2018).
RECOMMENDATIONS
For continuous improvement of the air quality urban realm must be changed and
evaluated so that exposure to poor air can be reduced. The public spaces and street seating must
be improved so that the concentration of polluting causing elements can be minimised. One of
the most effective measure which can be used by Kentish town is that in the local
implementation plan of town air pollution concentration must be included as an essential element
so that these can be controlled and monitored. The transportation strategy must be revised in a
way so that pollution can be reduced.
In order to create awareness among people health impact assessments must be carried out
and shared usage of transportation devices must be promoted. The air quality is also influenced
by location and density thus the ward must ensure that proper ventilation services and air
cleaning strategies must be used (Walton and et.al., 2016). For instance the timely servicing of
vehicles can also minimise the air pollution. It is also recommended that emission regulations
must be implemented and use of sustainable vehicles or construction must be promoted. It will
help to reduce the factors which are causing poor quality of air in the ward.
CONCLUSION
From the study it can be concluded that there is need to emphasis on quality of air in
Kentish town so that urban health can be improved. It has been analysed from the study that
regular air quality monitoring must be evaluated so that statistics can be used to improve health
targets. The emission sources, factors contributing in air pollution must be identified so that
degradation causing factors can be controlled. It can also be concluded that air pollution is one of
the key factor for poor health in the region. Thus, suitable air quality control strategies must be
formulated and implemented by local authorities
10

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Burman, E., and et.al., 2018. Design and operational strategies for good Indoor Air Quality in
low-energy dwellings: performance evaluation of two apartment blocks in East London,
UK. The 7th International Building Physics Conference (IBPC 2018).
Halonen, and et.al., 2016. Long-term exposure to traffic pollution and hospital admissions in
London. Environmental pollution. 208. pp.48-57.
Jimenez-Bescos, C. and Prewett, R., 2018. Monitoring IAQ and thermal comfort in a
conservation area low energy retrofit. Energy Procedia. 147. pp.195-201.
McCarthy, M., 2018. A Georgian suburb: revealing place and person in London’s Camden
Town.
Mudway, I.S. and et.al., 2019. Impact of London's low emission zone on air quality and
children's respiratory health: a sequential annual cross-sectional study. The Lancet
Public Health. 4(1). pp.e28-e40.
Walton, H. and et.al., 2016, August. Assessing the health burden of long-term exposure to
nitrogen dioxide and mortality in London. In ISEE Conference Abstracts.
Walton, H., and et.al., 2015. Understanding the health impacts of air pollution in
London. London: Kings College London, Transport for London and the Greater London
Authority.
Wood, H.E. and et.al., 2015. Effects of air pollution and the introduction of the London Low
Emission Zone on the prevalence of respiratory and allergic symptoms in schoolchildren
in East London: a sequential cross-sectional study. PLoS One. 10(8). p.e0109121.
Online
Air quality in camden: a guide for public health professionals. 2012. [Online]. Access through
<https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/air_quality_guidance_for_public_health_
professionals_-_lb_camden.pdf>
Camden Ward Profiles. 2017. [Online]. Access through
<https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/commonplace-customer-files/camdencilmap/
Ward+Profiles+-+Final-compressed.pdf>
11

Grant., I., 2016. Kentish Town Particulate Matter Monitoring Project July. [Online]. Access
through <https://camdenairaction.wordpress.com/2016/10/09/kentish-town-particulate-
matter-monitoring-project/>
Health and exposure to pollution. 2019. [Online]. Access through
<https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/environment/pollution-and-air-quality/health-
and-exposure-pollution>
Pollution map reveals unsafe air quality at almost 2,000 UK sites. 2019. [Online]. Access
through <https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/27/pollution-map-
reveals-unsafe-air-quality-at-almost-2000-uk-sites>
12

13

14

15

16