FOI - Certified deaths from air pollution since 2000 [Jul 2023]

Your request

Can you tell me via statistics how many people died in London from 2000 to present 
with pollution or traffic pollution on the death certificate?

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.

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.

The GLA does not hold data on estimates for other years.

The Office for National Statistics publishes mortality statistics on deaths registered by underlying cause of deaths.

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. 

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.

If you have any further questions relating to this matter, please contact us, quoting 
reference MGLA310723-3058.