Over 25,000 UK schools are in areas with toxic air, study finds

More than 25,000 schools across Britain are in areas exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines, according to new analysis from campaigning coalition Health Equals.

The study found that 87% of UK schools are in neighbourhoods with unsafe levels of pollution, putting 12 million children at risk of long-term health problems. Around 850,000 children are exposed to air pollution – more than twice the WHO limit. 

The coalition, which includes 85 organisations such as Mind, the British Red Cross and the Local Government Association, warned that toxic air was a major driver of health inequality, particularly in deprived and ethnically diverse communities.

According to the analysis, WHO guidelines were breached in 35,000 neighbourhoods, affecting 90% of the population. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has previously found that air pollution is now the second leading risk factor for death in children under five.

Despite the scale of the issue, polling suggests public awareness remains low. While 70% of people said they were concerned about outdoor air pollution, fewer than half linked it to poor lung development, asthma or lung cancer.

Two in three parents surveyed said they wanted politicians to act on air quality, with many saying they were motivated to press the government for change.

Paul McDonald, chief campaigns officer at Health Equals, said: “Our health is shaped by the world around us – from the air we breathe, to the homes we live in, the money in our pockets and the work we do – these are the building blocks of health.

“Clean air isn’t just an environmental issue – it’s a clear example of health inequality in the UK. While some children breathe safely, many grow up in areas where toxic air damages their lungs before they even reach school.”

Angela Fonso, co-founder of campaign group Clean Air for Southall and Hayes, added: “No one should have to worry if the air in their home is making their children sick – but for families like mine, toxic air is a daily reality.”

Health Equals is calling for a cross-government health inequalities strategy as part of its Make Health Equal campaign, which highlights how poor housing, insecure work and low income – alongside toxic air – contribute to life expectancy gaps of up to 16 years across the UK.