Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of research led by Dr Mary Abed Al Ahad of the University of St Andrews showing that people exposed to high levels of pollution are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and psychosis; and whether they plan to reduce pollution in cities as a result.

Poor air quality is one of the largest environmental risks to public health in the UK. Epidemiological studies have shown that long-term exposure to air pollution (over years or lifetimes) reduces life expectancy, mainly due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and lung cancer. Short-term exposure (over hours or days) to elevated levels of air pollution can also cause a range of health impacts.

Defra has not yet reviewed the research led by Dr Mary Abed Al Ahad. The Government continues to consider and evaluate the evidence of links between exposure to air pollution and a wide range of health effects including, adverse birth outcomes, diabetes, and increased dementia risk, as well as mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and psychosis.

The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants provides independent advice to the Government on how air pollution impacts on health, including on emerging research.

The Government is committed to protecting the public from the harm of pollution and will introduce a Clean Air Strategy to deliver our existing legally binding air quality targets, including a series of interventions to reduce emissions so that everyone’s exposure to air pollution is reduced.