New BTS Position Statement on Air Quality

To mark Clean Air Day 2022, the British Thoracic Society has today published a new Position Statement on Air Quality.

Air quality is an increasingly important topic and an issue that affects the general public. However it is of even greater concern to people with respiratory diseases and to our Members, who are responsible for their care.

Our new Statement encapsulates the Society’s belief that every person has the right to breathe clean air at home, outside, and at work, and spells out its commitment to inform, educate and support respiratory healthcare professionals to provide advice to patients and their carers on how to mitigate the impact of air pollution on their health.

As well as outlining how BTS intends to support the respiratory community, the Statement also highlights national policies and interventions necessary to improve air quality in the UK.

Dr Jo Feary, co-author of the BTS Air Quality Statement, said: “Poor air quality doesn’t affect everyone equally. It has a disproportionate impact on those living in areas of social deprivation, and we see those contributing the least getting affected the most.

“In this Statement, we support changes that will reduce exposure to harmful air pollution and help prevent climate change.

“The current UK target for air pollution is four times higher than the WHO 2021 recommendations.  We cannot address health inequalities effectively without acting on poor air quality, starting by at least matching the WHO commitments.”

Dr Chris Barber, Chair of the group that developed the BTS Air Quality Statement, added: “BTS is aware that there is growing expectation from patients that respiratory professionals should be knowledgeable about the health risks of being exposed to poor air quality, and be able to discuss with them potential ways of mitigating such risks.

“The new Position Statement provides links to freely available online resources that provide guidance on this topic, covering airborne pollution in the outdoor environment, at home and in the workplace."

As part of the work to empower and equip respiratory professionals with the tools and knowledge they need to support their patients, BTS has also curated a collection of resources which include information on how air pollution can affect people with lung conditions, communications toolkits, and air pollution maps and alerts.

The Society is also a member of the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change (UKHACC), which brings together health professionals to advocate for just responses to the climate and ecological crisis, promote the health benefits that flow from those responses, and empower members and health professionals to make changes in their professional and personal lives to respond to the crisis.

UKHACC runs a number of activities, including events, that BTS Members are welcome to take part in. As well as through BTS, Members can support the Alliance as individual healthcare professionals.