Air pollution and you
- Click to jump to section:
- What is air pollution
- Mythbusting
- Your health
- Who's at risk
- What are the affects?
What is air pollution?
You can’t always see it, but air pollution is all around us. It comes from many sources and can be damaging to our health.
We can breathe harmful gases and tiny particles deep into our lungs. Some of the smallest particles may also pass into our bloodstreams.
By learning more about air pollution you can help tackle it and protect your health.
To view air quality monitoring data, reports and maps for Greater Manchester, visit our Data Hub. You can also sign up to receive alerts about forecast air quality in your area.
Types and sources of air pollution
Air quality in Greater Manchester is improving. Nitrogen dioxide levels on local roads are falling, and fewer locations are exceeding the legal limit of 40 µg/m3. Tiny particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations in Greater Manchester are also improving, with all Greater Manchester monitoring stations in 2024 showing levels below the UK’s 2040 target level of 10 µg/m3.
Nitrogen dioxide is a gas which is mostly produced when fossil fuels such as coal, oil, methane gas (natural gas) or diesel are burned at high temperatures. For example, by car engines, power stations, industry, cooking and heating.
Along with other nitrogen oxides (NOx), NO2 contributes to ground-level ozone. Ozone is linked to respiratory (breathing) issues. Road transport, especially diesel vehicles, remains the largest source of emissions. NO2 is the main pollutant being tackled by the Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan.
Ozone is a gas. In the earth’s upper atmosphere (about 15 miles above us) it protects us from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. However, at ground level, ozone becomes an air pollutant and is a key contributor to smog. This type of ozone forms when pollutants from sources like vehicles, factories, and farming react in sunlight.
But at ground level, ozone pollutes our air and is one of the main causes of smog. This kind of ozone is formed when certain pollutants (from things like cars, factories and agriculture) react in sunlight.
So, unhealthy levels of ozone are more likely to happen on hot, sunny days. Ozone can be carried a long way by wind to affect both urban and rural areas.
Particulate matter (PM) is tiny bits of solid and liquid floating in the air which we can breathe in. Some are so small (like PM10 and PM2.5, which are thinner than a human hair) that they can harm our health by getting into our lungs and bloodstream. PM can be ‘primary’ (like soot or dust) or ‘secondary’ (made when other chemicals in the air mix with each other).
These particles can travel long distances. In the UK, around half of PM comes from nature (like pollen and sea spray) or blows in from outside the country. People can also make harmful PM: by burning at home (wood and coal fires and stoves or garden bonfires), driving (which wears down vehicle brakes and tyres), and industry (factories and building work). Sometimes you can see PM. In winter, when cold air can trap PM, or on high pollution days, when PM mixes with other pollution, you can see it as smog or haze.
Sulphur dioxide is an invisible gas with a strong smell that comes from natural sources (like volcanoes and fires) as well as from burning sulphur-rich fuels. With the closure of UK coal power stations and stricter fuel regulations, most sulphur dioxide now comes from factories, people burning wood or coal at home, and international shipping.
Mythbusting
Not necessarily true. The air you breathe inside your vehicle can be worse than the air outside. Your vehicle is surrounded by exhaust fumes from traffic, which you can breathe in as air filters don’t always remove all of the pollution from the air they circulate.
Cycling and walking is better for your health and fitness, and you could be less exposed to air pollution than drivers because even being a short distance away from traffic makes a difference. You can reduce your exposure by sticking to quieter roads away from heavy traffic. If we all cycle and walk more and drive less, we can help reduce congestion and pollution.
At the moment there isn’t strong evidence that using face masks or respirators routinely will reduce your exposure to air pollution. Masks need to fit very snugly to work – and need to have very effective filters. Many of the face masks on the market don’t stop you from breathing in the smallest particles.
You’re better off cycling or walking on quiet routes away from polluting traffic. You can see the latest forecast for air quality in Greater Manchester on our Forecast and alerts page. There you can also sign up to receive an Air Alerts email, text or recorded phone message whenever air pollution is forecast to be 'moderate' or worse. The forecasting system is based on the national Daily Air Quality Index, which gives recommended actions and health advice for when air quality is poor. If you have a health condition that is made worse by air pollution, continue to follow your usual medical advice.
Sometimes you can see or smell air pollution, like smog and exhaust fumes. But some of the air pollutants which are most damaging to health aren’t always visible and come from many different sources. Air pollution is a complex mix of particles and gases from both natural and man-made sources. Particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) are both major components of urban air pollution. Any amount of pollution can be damaging to our health.
We can all do a lot to help clean up the air we breathe. Many simple changes to our everyday routine can combine to make a real difference to air pollution levels. Walking or cycling makes a difference, as it reduces the number of cars on the road. If you need to drive, you can still reduce the impact of your journey.
Think about the way you travel, the type of vehicle you use, how often you drive, and the way you drive. (See our Top Tips for drivers). Even the way we get our online shopping delivered to us can be a big influence on how many polluting delivery vehicles drive down our roads each day.
It’s easy to think that air pollution is only a concern in big cities like Delhi or Beijing. But towns and cities across the UK have a problem with air quality too and road transport is a major source.
Air pollution in Greater Manchester affects the health of our communities and contributes to at least 1,200 early deaths in our region alone each year.
The government has instructed Greater Manchester and many other areas to develop Clean Air Plans to bring levels of harmful nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) on local roads within legal limits as soon as possible.
Air pollution harms our health at every stage of life and is even linked to early deaths. And no one is safe from it.
Children can be affected as their organs and immune systems are still developing, while older people, and people with existing health conditions, are particularly vulnerable. But adults in good general health can also develop health conditions from continued exposure to dirty air.
Air pollution and your health
Air pollution can contribute to illness and early deaths in our communities. In towns and cities, vehicles are the biggest source of outside air pollution, but poor indoor air quality can be harmful too.
Air pollution affects everyone, from childhood right through to death. Children, older adults, and people with existing health problems are most at risk.
Babies and children
Babies and children are more vulnerable to air pollution as their organs and immune systems are still developing. It can contribute to childhood asthma (and make asthma attacks worse), lung damage and other health problems.
Older people and people with health conditions
Evidence suggests that older people and those with breathing or heart problems are more likely to be harmed from short-term exposure to air pollution than healthy people. People with heart issues, including people living with obesity, can be more affected. Air pollution may also have more of an impact on older adults because their immune system may cause more inflammation (swelling and irritation).
Adults and drivers
Air pollution can harm all adults, and drivers should be aware that air quality inside their vehicle can be worse than outside. This is because the enclosed space traps pollution, leading to higher concentrations.
What are the affects?
Air pollution is a concern for our health and the environment. We can all breathe invisible gases and fine particles deep into our lungs. This can make some people worry when going about their daily life.
Air pollution can:
- make existing heart and lung conditions worse
- be linked to higher risks of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, heart attack and stroke
- contribute to the risk of dying from certain health conditions
Air pollution and staying active
For most people, the long-term benefits of regular physical activity outweigh the risks of short periods exposed to higher levels of air pollution.
If you have a chronic cardiovascular or respiratory condition, you could experience some effects. Make sure you monitor your symptoms during and after physical activity and manage your condition in line with your doctor’s advice.
To reduce your pollution exposure, plan ahead: check local air quality information, use less busy routes, and be active during quieter times.