The impact on human health of car-related air pollution in the UK, 1995–2005

• Published in: Atmospheric environment (1994) 2013-10, Vol.77, p.260-266
• Main Authors: Smith, T.W., Axon, C.J., Darton, R.C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air; Air pollution; Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Biological and medical sciences; Emissions; Environment. Living conditions; Environmental pollutants toxicology; Exact sciences and technology; Health; Medical sciences; Morbidity; Mortality; Motor car; Pollution; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Toxicology
• ISSN: 1352-2310; 1873-2844
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2013.05.016

We have analysed the impact on human health of emissions produced by the UK car fleet in the years 1995 and 2005. Calculations were based on reported measurements of pollutant concentration, literature values of exposure response coefficients and data for mortality and morbidity. A share was attributed to the car fleet based on emissions data. Although the total distance driven in the UK increased by 16% over this period to 460 billion km, there was a significant fall in engine emissions as increasingly stringent regulations (EURO standards) were introduced. As a result there was a decrease of some 25% in the number of deaths attributable to car-related air pollution – down to 5589 in 2005. The estimated number of years of life lost at 65 000 (England and Wales) in 2005, was about half that caused by road accidents involving cars in the same year. We report further calculations which show the effect of car-related pollution on hospital admissions. Our method is straightforward, providing acceptable estimates for health impacts on the predominantly urban population of the UK. There remains a need for more work, particularly cohort studies of morbidity, to establish the long-term effects of air pollution. •We analysed the health impact of emissions from the UK car fleet in 1995 and 2005.•Car emissions dropped significantly, driven by the new European standards.•Car pollution related deaths fell by approximately 25% to 5589 in 2005.•Car accidents cost half as many lives as pollution but twice as many years of lost life.•Poor and missing data hamper monitoring of important health outcomes.