Families and health experts in the United Kingdom are calling for urgent measures to improve air quality, citing its impact on millions living with respiratory conditions such as asthma, cystic fibrosis (CF), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Approximately 12 million people in the UK suffer from lung-related illnesses, and respiratory diseases remain among the top three causes of death nationwide.
The Cystic Fibrosis Trust, in collaboration with the York Health Economics Forum, released a report titled *Air Quality and Cystic Fibrosis: A Pragmatic Review*, which highlights the critical link between outdoor air pollution—particularly vehicle emissions—and deterioration in lung health. The report emphasizes that poor air quality exacerbates symptoms, accelerates lung function decline, and raises the risk of infections, especially for people with CF, a genetic disorder characterized by thick mucus obstructing the lungs.
More than 11,000 individuals in the UK live with life-limiting CF. Families affected by the condition have shared personal accounts underscoring the real-life consequences of polluted air. Ben and Alix Oxlade-Parker, who relocated with their two children to the East Riding of Yorkshire, noted significant health improvements for their son Rufus, three, who has CF. The couple attributed his reduced frequency of infections to cleaner coastal air, which they have incorporated into his daily physiotherapy routine. They acknowledged that not all families have the means to make such lifestyle changes and stressed the need for broader government intervention.
Similarly, Catherine Farrer from East Dulwich, London, detailed the precautions her family takes to minimize exposure to pollution for her 11-year-old daughter Kate, also diagnosed with CF. She highlighted the unfair burden placed on families to manage environmental risks and called for universal access to cleaner air.
Experts echo these concerns. Professor Ben Barratt of Imperial College London, involved in research supported by the trust, stated that any improvement in air quality benefits public health, particularly for vulnerable groups. The trust advocates for stronger policies, including stricter standards and enhanced monitoring of outdoor pollutants.
According to the report, the thick mucus in CF patients' lungs facilitates bacterial infections, which compromise health and increase hospital admissions. David Ramsden, chief executive of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, warned that declining air quality is contributing to worsening lung function and urged policymakers to prioritize clean air initiatives urgently.
Data from the Royal College of Physicians underline the broader public health toll of pollution, attributing around 30,000 deaths annually in the UK to air pollution, along with economic costs exceeding £27 billion each year. The college emphasized the wide-ranging effects of toxic air—even at low levels—on fetal development, cancer, cardiovascular conditions, stroke, mental health, and dementia. Dr. Mumtaz Patel, president of the Royal College of Physicians, described air pollution as a public health crisis requiring immediate action.
In response, the Department for the Environment stated that the government is implementing measures to improve air quality. In May, officials introduced the first phase of a new air quality alert system, enabling individuals to receive localized warnings when pollution levels rise. Further updates to the system are expected by the end of July.
The continued advancement of CF treatments has extended life expectancy for patients dramatically over recent decades—from an average of 31 years in 1997 to 66 years currently—with new medications like Alyftrek providing additional support. However, health advocates maintain that addressing environmental factors remains essential to safeguarding and improving respiratory health across the UK.