The British Lung Foundation is calling on the Government to take more action to improve air quality, after research released showed low levels of air pollution can still increase the risk of dying early.
The BLF are urgently calling for:
- More initiatives to reduce harmful emissions and improve air quality
- Lung disease to be made a national priority
- Better funding for research into respiratory diseases which kill one in five people in the UK
Top 10 tips: Air pollution and your lungs
1) Air pollution is linked to respiratory diseases like bronchitis and asthma and is also thought to cause about 3% of lung cancer
2) Traffic emissions are now the main source of air pollution with small smoke particles known as PM10s especially dangerous to lungs
3) Make the air safer to breathe by leaving the car at home and getting on public transport
4) Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas caused mainly by traffic exhausts which hampers the blood’s ability to carry oxygen to the brain, heart and other tissues
5) Ozone levels are highest in summer and can affect up to a third of healthy people who may find it harder to exercise outdoors
6) You can find out about air pollution levels in your area by ringing 0800 556677 (for free) or on Teletext (page 156)
7) If levels are high where you live and you feel affected, cut back on the amount of time you spend outdoors, especially in cities
8) If you have to drive, car-share with friends or family and use unleaded petrol or ultra clean diesel
9) Make sure children who have asthma always carry their inhalers with them
10) If you live near a busy main road, try to close the windows at peak times
