Key information
Request reference number: MGLA310823-5435
Date of response:
Summary of request
Your request
Since 2013 how many children below the age of 16 have died from the result of air pollution according to the records from Coroner Inquests
Our response
The GLA has commissioned research to estimate the health burden of air pollution in London.
In 2015, the GLA commissioned research from the Environmental Research Group (then of King’s College London). The report (“Understanding the Health Impacts of Air Pollution in London”) states the total mortality burden in 2010 from PM2.5 and NO2 can be added to give a range from 3,537 to 9,416 equivalent deaths. The report is available here: King's College London Report On Mortality Burden of NO2 and PM2.5 in London | PDF | Air Pollution | Nitrogen Dioxide (scribd.com)
In 2021, the GLA commissioned updated research from the Environmental Research Group (now of Imperial College London). This report found that in 2019, in Greater London, 61,800 to 70,200 life years lost (the equivalent of between 3,600 to 4,100 attributable deaths) were estimated to be attributable to anthropogenic fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), assuming health effects exist even at very low levels. The full report is available on the GLA website:Health burden of air pollution in London | London City Hall
The GLA does not hold data on estimates for other years.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes mortality statistics on deaths registered by underlying cause of deaths: Causes of death - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk).
Environmental factors that affect health over a long time, like air pollution are not routinely included on death certificates for individuals. In fact, smoking is not routinely included on death certificates as a contributory factor for deaths from lung cancer or heart disease, even though smoking is a proven cause of premature death. However, in circumstances where there is sufficient evidence to link a death to a specific environmental exposure, this may be included on the death certificate or considered in a coroner's report.
The evidence that air pollution has negative effects on health throughout the life course, from pre-birth to old age is very well established. Most of these harms are through exposure over many years resulting in premature death from conditions such as heart disease, lung disease and lung cancers. The individual deaths will be recorded as having occurred due to these specific health conditions but there is strong evidence that, when you look at the impact over the whole population, air pollution is responsible for a proportion of these deaths.