Understanding the impact of air quality on childhood asthma: A call to action for Southwark schools
By Anna Czerska, Principal Air Quality Projects Officer – Environmental Protection Team, Southwark Council
In the UK, childhood asthma is more prevalent than in any other European country [1]. In urban schools, the prevalence of asthma attacks and asthmatic symptoms averages 10.2%, significantly higher than in suburban schools [1]. This disparity highlights the urgent need to address air quality in urban educational environments.
Indoor air quality, particularly in our homes and schools, plays a crucial role in our health, especially for those with asthma. Beyond health implications, understanding the science of air quality fosters a deeper engagement with the world around us.
A study conducted under the large school air quality monitoring project SINPHONIE revealed that while building fabrics can reduce the ingress of outdoor NO2 and PM10, they are less effective against finer particulates like PM2.5 [2]. However, this research was based on a small sample of schools. What does this mean for your school and the children who go there, especially those suffering from asthma?
A review of existing studies concluded that children living or attending schools near high-traffic roads are exposed to higher levels of road transport emissions, leading to a higher incidence and prevalence of childhood asthma and wheeze [1]. Specifically, a higher incidence of childhood asthma was positively associated with exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and exposure to particulate matter (PM) was linked to a higher incidence of wheeze in children [1,2].
Research from the SAMHE initiative found that classroom PM2.5 concentrations are closely linked to outdoor PM2.5 concentrations. Long-term exposure is significantly influenced by large outdoor events, some originating thousands of kilometres away, and some national such as Guy Fawkes Night [3]. (Thinking of these findings, it would be interesting to explore the impacts of local wood burning activities on school and home indoor air quality levels. People who burn wood tend to report that they do so more during the winter evenings, and more at weekends than on weekdays [4]. The spike in particulates shown in Figures 1 and 2 at these times matches that pattern of behaviour and is not explained by any other known sources such as traffic volumes. This can be seen especially at the Vicarage Grove site, which is closer to the more affluent areas of the borough, where wood burning is more prevalent.)
Children spend most of their time at home and school, making it crucial to be aware of the air quality in these environments. Families need to be informed about actions they can take to reduce children’s exposure to harmful emissions generated at home and school.
Moreover, since the onset of the COVID pandemic, the percentage of private renters with children in damp and mould-affected homes has almost doubled, according to BBC analysis of the English Housing Survey [4]. Damp and mould growth in homes pose significant health risks, including threats from house dust mites and fungal growth.
To address these issues, Southwark’s Asthma Air Quality Monitoring and Engagement project will provide free indoor air quality sensors for classrooms and the homes of pupils with asthma. These sensors will show real-time air quality data, enabling teachers and pupils to understand the sources of emissions and identify changes to reduce harmful exposure. This project supports broader air quality initiatives, offering a dedicated webpage and monitoring equipment to help schools achieve cleaner air and healthier learning environments. Participation in this project is free for schools and pupils.
There is already substantial knowledge about the link between air pollution and asthma. However, we need the community to understand and act on this information. We invite Southwark schools to join the project and contribute to this vital research.
If you are a Southwark school please go to the project’s video broadcast page to sign up. https://learnliveuk.com/asthma-air-quality-monitoring-engagement/
Alternatively, register your interest by sending an email to environmental.protection@southwark.gov.uk
[1] Mumovic, D. Chatzidiakou, L., Williams J. J. and Burman, E. (2018). Indoor air quality in London’s schools. Report commissioned by GLA and prepared by UCL IEDE and University of Cambridge.
[2] Csobod, E., Annesi-Maesano, I., Carrer, P., Kephalopoulos, S., Madureira, J., Rudnai, P., … and Viegi, G. (2014). SINPHONIE–Schools Indoor Pollution and Health Observatory Network in Europe-Final Report.
[3] Handy, A. SAMHE Findings and Outputs. Presentation for Public SAMHE webinar. 17 July 2024.
[4] See London Wood Burning Project for details.
[5] Agerholm, H. (2024) More children in damp rental homes, figures show. BBC News. 20 July 2024.
