GLA commissioned AQC to review health effects evidence for air quality and assess how it was reflected in planning policy and guidance in London. The report offers recommendations on how this could be improved to address health inequalities and provide better protection for residents vulnerable to such effects.
GLA commissioned AQC to review current evidence on the health effects of air pollution, metrics for exposure and the treatment of vulnerable groups in planning policy. Based on this review, AQC has offered a series of policy recommendations for communicating air pollution in the context of a green recovery, updating London’s air quality alerts system, protection of vulnerable groups and the implementation of air quality positive in the planning system.
The links between exposure to air pollution and chronic health impacts are well established and there is a growing evidence base on the link between poor air quality and multiple deprivation. As pressure increases to move away from the limit/compliance based approach to air quality in favour of more general exposure reduction, ensuring air quality benefits are targeted towards those communities who are most severely affected presents a continuing challenge to policy makers. The report explores some of the concepts used in both air pollution and other policy areas, most notably public health, and suggests ways in which these could be applied pragmatically to ensure a more equitable application of resources.
The full report can be found on the GLA website: https://www.london.gov.uk/WHAT-WE-DO/environment/environment-publications/air-pollution-and-health-review
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