We need legislators to grab this once-in-a-generation opportunity to ensure our laws have a greater focus and commitment to protecting the public’s health.

Fearghal McKinney, Head of the British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland

Whatever shape Westminster takes after votes are cast on December 12 air pollution and its deadly impact on our health needs to be made a priority by our local representatives. Westminster was dissolved before the Environment Bill could complete its passage through Parliament and although the Bill sets out ambitions in relation to much needed new air quality targets a stronger focus needs to be on protecting the public’s health.

BHF-funded research has found that poor air quality can damage the heart and circulatory system and make existing heart conditions worse. That research has identified a deadly micro level of pollutant in the air that authorities are not consistently measuring, called particulate matter. It comes from industry emissions, household heating and our diesel engines. Each year around 36,000 UK deaths are attributable to air pollution from particulate matter pollution and on average air pollution takes six months off the lives of every single person in the UK. So, we know our air is polluted but because we do not have a comprehensive mechanism for measurement we are potentially ignoring the true picture.

That’s why we’re calling on this issue to be on the top of our local MP’s in-trays when they take up office. We need legislators to grab this once-in-a-generation opportunity to ensure our laws have a greater focus and commitment to protecting the public’s health.

There are around 225,000 people living with a heart or circulatory disease in Northern Ireland. Our research shows that long term and short-term exposure to air pollution can make existing heart conditions worse and can cause cardiovascular events, including heart attacks, in vulnerable groups.

Air pollution is made up of a range of different pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM). Although we cannot see them, these pollutants can have a major impact on our heart health. That’s why we’re calling for greater monitoring of air pollution so that we are better informed as to the size of the problem we are dealing with.

As it stands Northern Ireland’s local councils have a statutory duty to review and assess air quality within their districts under Part III of The Environment Order (NI) 2002. This involves measuring air pollution and trying to predict how it may change in the immediate future with an aim of ensuring that national air quality objectives are achieved throughout the UK within the relevant deadlines.

BHF NI’s call to action is a two-pronged approach aimed at bringing about change.

Currently the legal air quality limits for Northern Ireland do not protect health, that’s why it is so vital that our air quality legislation has the protection of health at its core. This will ensure that efforts to reduce air pollution achieve meaningful outcomes, particularly for vulnerable groups whose lives are impacted by air pollution.

Recently, we saw the introduction of an Ultra-Low Emission Zone in London. By 2020 low emission zones will be introduced to Scotland’s four biggest cities. Germany has over 50 Clean Air Zones and evidence has shown that these zones have the potential to tackle poor air quality in a given location.

We welcome the measures already in place to improve air pollution levels in Northern Ireland but there is much more to do.

The launch of Belfast Rapid Transit – Glider scheme last year and the development of the North-West multi Modal Transport Hub along with further investment in cycling and walking infrastructure are positive steps. But health bodies, transportation providers, environmentalists, scientists and local councils need to work in partnership to identify robust measures to tackle many of the causes of harmful air pollution including our congested roads. The journey has begun but we are a long way off our destination.

Continue the debate on this issue with us on Wednesday 27 November at The Mac at 6.30pm. Register here – Act on air pollution: Save lives