The British Lung Foundation (BLF) welcomes the Environmental Audit Committee report, out today, which raises awareness of the importance of tackling air pollution in the UK. 

The report says that more could be done to prevent the early deaths of up to 50,000 people each year hastened by air pollution. Furthermore, it states that failure to reduce pollution had put an "enormous" cost on the NHS and could cost millions in EU fines.  

In the recent Manifesto, the British Lung Foundation calls for action to be taken to reduce the harmful emissions and improve the UK's air quality. The report is now a step forward in highlighting the dangers of air pollution for people with lung conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an umbrella term for emphysema and chronic bronchitis.  

Research suggests that air pollution contributes to the development of COPD and it may also play a significant role in causing other lung problems. It is estimated that 38% of the population are at risk from suffering adverse health effects from exposure to air pollution. 

The Environmental Audit Committee report says that the most likely victims of air pollution are those who already have a respiratory illness such as asthma or COPD. It adds ‘poor air quality reduces the life expectancy of everyone by an average of 7-8 months and up to 50,000 people a year may die prematurely; however, in pollution hotspots the life expectancy falls by 8-9 years'.  

Dame Helena Shovelton, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation says: "We welcome this report which raises the awareness of the dangerous impact air pollution has. Air pollution has been a longstanding problem for the 1 in 7 people living with a lung condition, exacerbating and possibly even causing COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), lung cancer and other lung conditions. The British Lung Foundation is calling for more action to improve air quality and to implement initiatives that will lower harmful emissions and improve air quality."