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FOI - Air pollution deaths statistics [Jun 2023]

Key information

Request reference number: MGLA020623-8957

Date of response:

Summary of request

Your request

I am very disturbed to repeatedly see and hear the statement that the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) will save 4,000 lives a year.

  • For how many years have 4,000 people a year being killed ?
  • Can you provide data on just 20 people that died in London in 2022 due to air pollution?
  • Can you provide data on 10 people from 2021 and just 5 from 2020?

While it appears your access to peoples data seems to be highly dubious, I am looking for details on the coroners report and death certificate or when and where the autopsy was performed and the cause of death recorded.

Our response 

In 2021, the GLA commissioned research from the Environmental Research Group at Imperial College London to quantify the health burden of air pollution in London.

This research 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 independent Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA) for the London-wide ULEZ proposals 
assessed potential health, environment, equality, and economic impacts of the proposals.

The forecast reduction in chronic mortality (life years lost) expected from the London-wide 
ULEZ is set out in Chapter 6.2 of IIA. You may also be interested in the Air Quality Health 
Impact Assessment (AQHIA) which can be found in Appendix A of the IIA. 

The GLA does not hold data on death certificates or coroners reports. 

If you have any further questions relating to this matter, please contact us, quoting
reference MGLA020623-8957.

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