Research by our Healthy Childhood theme’s ground-breaking Born in Bradford (BiB) research study has revealed the extent of Bradford residents’ worries about pollution in the city.
The research aims to find out the impact of changes in the city to combat pollution and was set up in response to the implementation of a Clean Air Zone in Bradford which would see older, polluting commercial vehicles pay a daily fee to enter the zone. The Bradford Clean Air Zone has officially come into play today (Monday 26 September 2022).
The team surveyed 1,996 Bradford residents, including 1,154 families who have been participating in the BiB study since their children were born. They found that only 1 in 8 of people surveyed thought that air quality in Bradford was good, and two-thirds thought that it was extremely important to improve air quality in the city.
“Born in Bradford research has provided vital evidence showing the terrible consequences that polluted air has on the health of children living in the city,” explained Professor Rosie McEachan, Co-Theme Lead for the Early Life and Prevention theme at NIHR ARC Yorkshire and Humber.
Dr John Wright, Director of our ARC, said: “The tragedy is that it is Bradford’s children who are harmed most by air pollution. Clean Air Zones are one of the most effective ways for us to protect them. Almost half the schools in Bradford will be in the Clean Air Zone and so our children will be shielded from the toxic effects of traffic-related air pollution.”