New WHO report says air pollution around schools poses health risk to children

There are concerns not enough is being done to tackle air pollution around new and proposed schools.

A new report by the World Health Organisation says dirty air around our schools is putting children at higher risk of certain health conditions. It's found the air around most new or proposed schools built in some places since 2017 - breaches official guidelines for things like Nitrogen Dioxide emissions.

Levels of pollutants were particularly high at sites in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. However, in other large cities, including Liverpool, Bristol, and Newcastle, they were relatively low.

But there was some good news for Devon and Cornwall, which had the lowest pollution rates in the country.

The study, which has been led by researchers at Evelina London Children's Hospital and King's College London (KCL), has called for a mandatory air quality assessment at the proposal and planning stage of any new school building, with national guidance and legislation to also be updated.

The authors of the study warned: "The public health implications of avoidable childhood exposure to poor air quality could have significant effects on both the quality adjusted life years of the population and financial health expenditure in the United Kingdom.

"Children deserve protection from avoidable harm while at school."

"Unless current recommendations are replaced with mandatory standards, it is unlikely that those proposing or designing new schools will make these assessments unless there is an individual already involved in the process who is both well-informed and passionate about reducing the impact of pollution."