Environmental Health JSNA: Outdoor Air Quality Wirral Intelligence Service November 2019 Wirral Intelligence Service: Outdoor Air Quality November 2019 Environmental Health JSNA: Outdoor Air Quality For further information please contact: Author: Sophie Patterson – Specialty Registrar in Public Health – Wirral Council – [email protected] Wirral Intelligence Service Email: [email protected] Background to JSNA – Joint Strategic Needs Assessment What is a JSNA? A Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, better known as a JSNA, is intended to be a systematic review of the health and wellbeing needs of the local population, informing local priorities, policies and strategies that in turn informs local commissioning priorities that will improve health and wellbeing outcomes and reduce inequalities throughout the Borough. Who is involved? Information from Council, NHS and other partners is collected and collated to inform the JSNA and this reflects the important role that all organisations and sectors have (statutory, voluntary, community and faith) in improving the health and wellbeing of Wirral’s residents. About this document This JSNA section looks to contain the most relevant information on the topic and provides an overview of those related key aspects How can you help? If you have ideas or any suggestions about these issues or topics then please email us at [email protected] or go to https://www.wirralintelligenceservice.org/ Version Number Date Authors Version 4 November 2019 Sophie Patterson, Victoria Chatterton, John Highton, Rachael Musgrave Content overview Air pollution is the most significant environmental risk to public health. This Abstract JSNA presents a summary of key air pollutants, the impact on health and priority actions in Wirral. Intended or External potential • Wirral Residents, Businesses, Partner organisations audience • Wirral partners via Health Protection Forum • Public Health Departmental Management Team • Environmental Health Departmental Management Team Links with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Asthma, Cardiovascular Disease, other topic Cancer, Health in Children, Older People, ,Diabetes, Obesity, Dementia, areas Health Protection, Transport and Climate & Health Wirral Intelligence Service: Outdoor Air Quality November 2019 Page 2 of 36 Key findings • Air pollution is the greatest single environmental risk to public health. Air pollutants that most significantly impact public health include particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). • Air pollution can compromise health outcomes, leading to a range of illnesses, increased hospital admissions and premature deaths. • The mortality burden from exposure to outdoor air pollution in the UK is estimated to be approximately 40,000 deaths per year. • The health problems resulting from exposure to air pollution have a high cost to individuals, society, businesses, and the health service, which are estimated to amount to more than £20 billion every year. • Whilst air pollution is harmful to everyone, adverse effects fall disproportionately on the most marginalised and vulnerable. • Estimating the impact of air pollution on health locally is challenging. However, in 2017, Public Health England estimated that the fraction of deaths attributable to particulate air pollution in Wirral (3.9%) was lower than the North West (4.1%) and England (5.1%). • In January 2018, the number of NO2 diffusion tubes monitoring air quality across Wirral was increased from 21 to 31. Check Local Insight for a map of the current locations. • In 2018, 31 NO2 diffusion tubes monitored air quality across Wirral. Only one monitor failed to meet objective target levels, but this reading was not deemed to be at a site of relevant public exposure. • In 2018, PM2.5 levels in Wirral were below the objective target levels set by the European Union and the World Health Organisation. • While there are no air quality management areas in Wirral, reducing air pollutants remains a local public health priority. • In July 2019, the Wirral cabinet unanimously passed a motion to declare a climate emergency, in line with the UK government and other local authorities. This builds on the established local Climate Change Strategy for Wirral, which also impacts positively on air quality. • National guidance states the importance of local leadership and collaborative action between transportation services, planning departments and public health to improve air quality. • Evidence suggests local action should prioritise co-benefit strategies, which not only improve air quality, but also improve wider health outcomes. • A recent internal audit of Wirral’s air quality interventions against recommendations from Public Health England identified concordance with guidance across a number of areas and suggested opportunities for further action. Wirral Intelligence Service: Outdoor Air Quality November 2019 Page 3 of 36 Environmental Health JSNA: Outdoor Air Quality Contents Key findings ................................................................................................................................ 3 Contents........................................................................................................................................ 4 What do we know? ....................................................................................................................... 6 Why is this important? ................................................................................................................ 6 Healthcare Implications ........................................................................................................... 6 Environmental Implications ..................................................................................................... 7 Legal Implications ................................................................................................................... 7 Air Pollution and Public Health ................................................................................................ 8 Particulate Matter (PM) ........................................................................................................... 8 Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) ........................................................................................................... 9 Indoor Air Quality .................................................................................................................... 9 Facts, figures and trends (Wirral and beyond) .......................................................................... 10 Air pollutants monitored in Wirral .......................................................................................... 11 Local, community and stakeholder views ................................................................................. 14 What are we expecting to achieve? (Targets) .......................................................................... 15 What are we achieving? (Performance) ................................................................................... 18 Nitrogen Dioxide ................................................................................................................... 18 Particulate Matter (PM2.5) ...................................................................................................... 20 Benzene ................................................................................................................................ 21 What is this telling us? .............................................................................................................. 22 Groups most at risk .................................................................................................................. 22 Key inequalities ........................................................................................................................ 23 Key issues and challenges ....................................................................................................... 24 What are we doing and why? .................................................................................................... 25 Current activity and services ..................................................................................................... 25 Local Air Quality Leadership ................................................................................................. 25 Environmental Permitting ...................................................................................................... 26 Smoke Control Areas ............................................................................................................ 26 Planning ................................................................................................................................ 27 Transport ............................................................................................................................... 27 Community Engagement ....................................................................................................... 29 Wirral Climate Change Strategy ............................................................................................ 29 What are the challenges? .......................................................................................................... 30 Key gaps in knowledge and services ........................................................................................ 30 Wirral