New partnership to tackle poor air quality

International clean air campaigner Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah CBE has highlighted the importance of tackling poor air quality in the South.

She gave a powerful talk in Southampton this week for Clean Air South. The new partnership has been set up to drive better understanding of how air pollution is impacting people’s health across the region.

Rosamund’s nine-year-old daughter, Ella Roberta, had a fatal asthma attack in 2013. She was the first person in the UK to have air pollution recognised as a factor in her death.

Rosamund has spent the decade since her daughter’s death campaigning on air pollution.

Her trip to the south coast included an event at University Hospital Southampton (UHS). She was shown some of the latest asthma research taking place at the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility (CRF).

‘A silent killer’

Air pollution is linked to 43,000 deaths a year in the UK. It is the largest environmental risk to public health. Children, the elderly and people who are clinically vulnerable are more susceptible than others.

There is strong evidence that pollution accelerates the progression of coronary heart disease, stroke, respiratory diseases, dementia and lung cancer. Research also shows that it contributes to the start of asthma, makes it worse over time and can contribute to early death.

In an inquest in 2020, a coroner ruled that air pollution had “made a material contribution” to Ella’s death. Her family lived just 30 metres from London’s South Circular Road. This is one of the most polluted roads in the capital.

In the years since her daughter’s death, Rosamund has become one of the most powerful voices in the pollution debate.

“Air pollution is a silent killer and a pandemic,” she said, “killing more people than Covid.”

Rosamund continued: “On the days there is a spike in pollution, more people go to hospital. If we clean up the air it wouldn’t be such a burden on the NHS.

“My daughter died a horrible death and children continue to die from asthma. It is our right to breathe clean air and we will keep battling to be heard.”

Pioneering research

Rosamund spent the morning with Clean Air South delegates at the University of Southampton’s (UoS) Future Towns Innovation Hub.

She then met medical students, nurses and consultants at UHS. They spoke about efforts to raise awareness of the impact of air pollution in relation to patients in their care.

At UHS, Rosamund also visited the NIHR Southampton CRF to see trials that are improving treatments for children with asthma and other conditions. She was introduced to Nikita, a 13-year-old who is part of a trial for children with severe asthma.

Dr Thom Daniels, consultant respiratory physician at University Hospital Southampton (UHS), said:

“Poor air quality is one of the major public health challenges of our time. It contributes to the shortened lives, poor health and deaths of thousands of people in the UK.

“We are delighted to welcome Rosamund to our hospital, giving her the chance to hear and see some of the work we are doing around this vitally important issue, including leading the way with clinical research that aims to provide better treatment and outcomes for our patients.”

Improving air quality

Rosamund’s visit was arranged by Sir Stephen Holgate, a world-leading clean air expert.

He is a Professor of Immunopharmacology at UoS and part of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre.

Rosamund and Stephen have worked closely together for many years. Stephen played a key role in the second inquest into Ella’s death.

Prof Holgate said: “Rosamund has become one of the world’s most successful campaigners on clean air. We are very keen to hear her personal story which is such a powerful reminder about the human toll of air pollution. We want to use this chance to accelerate work to improve air quality in the south with its unique air pollution issues.”

Clean Air South is overseeing a landmark report into the state of air quality in the Wessex area. The report is sponsored as part of UoS’ civic impact activities. Its authors are Professor John Boswell and Adam Meylan-Stevenson.

The report will outline initial findings, important gaps in the evidence and opportunities for policy makers in the region to improve the air we all breathe.

Driving change

Clean Air South aims to improve air quality by connecting health researchers with policy makers. It is jointly led by Wessex Health Partners and UoS’ Sustainability and Resilience Institute.

The partnership, which brings together expertise in research, innovation and education, aims to:

• Identify gaps in research and promote deeper understanding of air quality and its impact in the central south region

• Better understand local population health needs in relation to air quality

• Develop and implement innovations and policy change

• Develop education and training for both the general population and healthcare professionals to prevent, manage and treat ill health associated with poor air quality

• Help reduce the percentage of the local population with co-morbidities associated with polluted air for future generations

Christine McGrath, Wessex Health Partners Managing Director, said:

“We know polluted air, indoor and outdoor, is a major threat to health in the south and exacerbates health inequalities. This includes communities in areas of higher pollution, such as those living close to busy roads, children, the elderly and those with long term health conditions.

“With the right research in place, and by linking people together, we can support policymakers to enact bold policies which drive change. This will help protect our most vulnerable residents.”