Reviewing evidence on health impacts of low-level pollution

Full project title: Review and assessment of the evidence on health impacts of low-level pollution in countries with levels of ambient air pollution comparable to Scotland (Scottish Government reference: RESAS/020/20)

Duration: April 2023-October 2023

Project lead for CPHWB: Brodie Walker

Other UWE Bristol researchers:

• Professor Jo Barnes (Centre for Environment, Society and Resilience)
• Professor Enda Hayes
• Dr Issy Bray (Centre for Public Health and Wellbeing)

Funder: Scottish Government

The scope of the work commissioned under this specific request arises from the Cleaner Air for Scotland 2 (CAFS2) Strategy.

One of the actions from the CAFS2 Strategy is to assess the evidence on health impacts of low-level air pollution in countries with levels of ambient concentrations comparable to Scotland. An earlier review by the CAFS2 Health Working Group identified an absence of evidence of association with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Scottish studies. Part of the remit of this review is therefore to understand reasons for this apparent difference between health effects identified in Scottish studies and those in countries with levels of ambient air pollution comparable to Scotland.

To review and assess the evidence of health impacts in such countries, a robust, rapid semi-systematic literature review was undertaken. This review aims to collate and discuss the evidence on:

• the health impacts of air pollution at low levels comparable to Scotland
• reasons for an absence of association between air pollution and cardiovascular disease in Scottish studies.

• Full report: Low-level pollution - health impacts: evidence review
• Summary report: Review and assessment of the evidence on health impacts of low-level pollution in countries with levels of ambient air pollution comparable to Scotland (PDF)
• A presentation of the project findings was delivered online by Brodie Walker on 16 October 2023 to the Cleaner Air for Scotland 2 (CAFS2) working groups. The presentation slides are available upon request.

For further information about the project, please contact Professor Jo Barnes (jo.barnes@uwe.ac.uk).