Emissions vs exposure: Increasing injustice from road traffic-related air pollution in the United Kingdom

Joanna H Barnes,Tim J Chatterton,James W.S Longhurst

doi:10.1016/j.trd.2019.05.012

Joanna H Barnes, Tim J Chatterton + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2019.05.012

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Abstract

This paper presents unique spatial analyses identifying substantial discrepancies in traffic-related emissions generation and exposure by socioeconomic and demographic groups. It demonstrates a compelling environmental and social injustice narrative with strong policy implications for the UK and beyond.In the first instance, this research presents a decadal update for England and Wales to Mitchell and Dorling’s 2003 analysis of environmental justice in the UK. Using 2011 UK Government pollution and emissions data with 2011 UK Census socioeconomic and demographic data based on small area census geographies, this paper demonstrates a stronger relationship between age, poverty, road NOx emissions and exposure to NO2 concentrations. Areas with the highest proportions of under-fives and young adults, and poorer households, have the highest concentrations of traffic-related pollution.In addition, exclusive access to UK annual vehicle safety inspection records (‘MOT’ tests) allowed annual private vehicle NOx emissions to be spatially attributed to registered keepers. Areal analysis against Census-based socioeconomic characteristics identified that households in the poorest areas emit the least NOx and PM, whilst the least poor areas emitted the highest, per km, vehicle emissions per household through having higher vehicle ownership, owning more diesel vehicles and driving further.In conclusion, the analysis indicates that, despite more than a decade of air quality policy, environmental injustice of air pollution exposure has worsened. New evidence regarding the responsibility for generation of road traffic emissions provides a clear focus for policy development and targeted implementation.

Highlights

Air pollution has been recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2014) as the world’s “largest single environmental health risk”, with 4.2 million premature deaths in 2016 resulting from exposure to ambient air pollution (WHO, 2018)
It is important to note that, contrary to most air pollution research, the analyses presented in this paper regarding emissions from private vehicles do not consider where these emissions happen
Inequalities in exposure to air pollution across England and Wales have been identified in this work

Summary

Introduction

Air pollution has been recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2014) as the world’s “largest single environmental health risk”, with 4.2 million premature deaths in 2016 resulting from exposure to ambient (outdoor) air pollution (WHO, 2018). On 1st January 2010, the date for achievement of this limit value, 93% of the UK’s zones and agglomerations exceeded the threshold, despite the deadline for parallel national NO2 objectives having been passed five years earlier (Defra, 2011). In their 2017 air quality plan, the Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) (comprising the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)), estimated that some urban areas would still exceed the NO2 limit value by 2025 (JAQU, 2017). This failure to bring air pollution under control risks substantial fines being levied against the UK Government by the European Commission, due to infraction proceedings initiated in February 2014 (European Commission, 2014), at this stage, it is unclear how the UK’s intention to exit from the EU will affect this risk

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