Air pollution 'harms children's brain development'

Born In Bradford, which tracks the lives of more than 30,000 Bradfordians, measured the brain development of over 2,000 children aged 4-5 years living in the city using a range of tests to measure their brain function.

They found that children who lived nearer busy roads with high levels of air pollution performed worse on the tests than those living in less polluted areas.

Living near green space, parks or recreational facilities was linked to better performance, with scientists saying this was due to the reduced pollution on those areas.

The data has been published today to mark Clean Air Day.

Professor Rosie McEachan, Director of the Born in Bradford study, said: “Born in Bradford has already provided vital scientific evidence about the harm of air pollution in pregnancy harming the growth of unborn babies, and on children in contributing to the high levels of asthma in the city.

“These results show us that air pollution can harm brain development in children, which can lead to poorer education attainment or mental health problems in later life.”

Professor John Wright, Director of the Bradford Institute for Health Research, part of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, added: “The evidence of the toxic nature of the emissions coming out of our car exhausts has become overwhelming.

“These are invisible poisons that we churn out into our pure Yorkshire air every day – harming the lives of our children.

"Fifty years ago we thought that smoking was harmless, but high quality epidemiological evidence has lifted the scales from our eyes. We are in a similar position today with traffic-related air pollution – waking up to the immense harm that this is causing to our health and wellbeing.”

In September a Clean Air Zone will be introduced in Bradford. It will see the most polluting commercial vehicles charged to enter the city centre, parts of Shipley and the main roads in between.

It follows a Government order to Bradford Council in 2018 that pollution needed to be brought down to legal levels by 2022.

Grants have been offered to some businesses to upgrade their vehicles, and companies can apply for exemptions for a number of their vehicles.

However, the scheme has still proved controversial, with many businesses saying the daily charges would place a huge financial burden on them at a time when they are already facing increasing operating costs.

Others have vowed to cease operations in Bradford if the Clean Air Zone goes ahead.