Poorer and diverse communities in northern cities are exposed to ‘significantly higher levels’ of air pollution than their wealthier neighbours, new research finds.
A study by researchers at the University of Sheffield found that low-income and ethnically diverse communities in Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield are exposed to 33% more air pollution than cities without the same industrial histories.
Published in the Journal of Environmental Management, the research found that this is more than double the national average disparity of 15% between low-income, ethnically diverse communities and wealthier urban areas.
Dr Maria Val Martin, an UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and Atmospheric Scientist in the University of Sheffield’s School of Biosciences, said: ‘Low-income and diverse communities in Northern English cities with a history of heavy industry face a triple burden: worse air quality, lower vegetation density and nearby greenspaces that are often located close to traffic or neglected.
‘As well as the well-established health risks from air pollution, limited access to quality, functional green environments can also impact the mental wellbeing of people who rely on these areas for recreation.’
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