5 per cent of adult deaths in South Yorkshire linked to air pollution

Over five per cent of adult deaths in South Yorkshire are linked to air pollution and those most at risk could live nine years less than people in cleaner zones, documents show.

Sheffield City Region bosses in a report on the region’s future energy strategy, said between 2017 and onto 2035, the number of people contracting diseases related to emissions could top 31,000 costing the economy over £220 million.

The report adds that South Yorkshire 'faces significant air quality issues' with 28 Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) across the county.

Poor air quality is linked to a variety of health concerns ranging from short term illness to serious diseases and premature death.

Studies from Public Health England on the impacts of poor air quality and its effect on life expectancy and in South Yorkshire shows an average of 5.5% of all adult deaths can be attributed to PM2.5 air pollution

Barnsley 5.4 per cent, Doncaster 5.6 per cent, Rotherham 5.7 per cent and Sheffield 5.5 per cent.

Sheffield alone has 51 locations where the European Union’s annual average limit value for NO2 (40µg/m3 ) has been exceeded in one or more of the three-year periods and a 30 per cent reduction in NO2 emissions ‘would be needed in order to comply with the limit value’.

Analysis shows that road transport is the single most significant contributor to Sheffield’s NO2 emissions at these locations and bosses want to reduce exhaust pipe pollutants including the use of Clean Air Zones (CAZs).

The ‘significant air quality issues’ across South Yorkshire has also prompted bosses to try and shift towards low carbon transport powered by hydrogen and/or full-electric vehicles.

Karl Sample, senior programme manager at Sheffield City Region, said: “Individuals who are particularly sensitive and exposed to the most elevated levels of pollution have an estimated reduction in life expectancy of as much as nine years.

“The impact on health and life expectancy is more significant for some social groups than others, including the most deprived in South Yorkshire.

“The issue of road transport is an important challenge for SCR and together with the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, we are in a strong position to deliver the pace of change required through the devolved power given by Government and the aims of the SCR Transport Strategy.

“Mitigating the impact of the motorway network on air quality represents a significant challenge for South Yorkshire and success will be dependent on collaboration with Highways England and national government.”

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