'We wouldn't let our children drink dirty water. So why do we let them breathe dirty air?'
The new figures from campaign group Mums for Lungs reveal that, in the past two years, nearly 8,500 children have been admitted to Manchester hospitals or seen by paediatric respiratory specialists for breathing problems. This is shocking.
The fact that hospital admissions for young children with respiratory conditions have soared by hundreds in just one year, should be a wake-up call for all of us.
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Children like Elliot, whose mum bravely shared her story with the Manchester Evening News, should not be fighting for breath just because they're growing up near a busy road. But this is the harsh reality for thousands of families in the region.
In some areas of Manchester, nitrogen dioxide concentrations exceed the World Health Organization's safe limit by more than five times.
Air pollution can stunt the growth of children's lungs, worsen existing lung conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, and cause conditions like lung cancer. Yet despite these shocking statistics, action to tackle air pollution in the city has stalled.
Nothing has changed in recent years, because the issue is not taken seriously enough. Urgent action is needed now.
Air pollution affects all of us, but it harms the youngest and most vulnerable the most. When babies and toddlers are admitted to hospital in record numbers with respiratory issues, leaders in Manchester should not be complacent.
Respiratory illness is keeping children out of school, putting massive pressure on the NHS, and stealing away the carefree early years every child deserves.
The government originally told Andy Burnham to get its air pollution under control by 2025. Instead, there has been dithering and delays for years, including the planned Clean Air Zone being scrapped.
Manchester residents are now seeing the consequences of that decision. Car ownership in the city is climbing at over twice the national rate, while cities that pressed ahead with Clean Air Zones are seeing sharp drops in polluting vehicles and noticeable improvements in air quality.
Greater Manchester's recent clean air plan makes promising commitments about investing in cleaner buses, walking and cycling, and non-charging plans. While these are welcome steps, they don't go far enough.
Bold and ambitious action is needed, like in Bradford. The clean air zone there mandates older, more polluting lorries, buses and taxis must pay to drive into the city, leading to a significant decrease in the number of people going to GPs and A&E with respiratory problems and saving the NHS money.
Where is this ambition for Manchester? Manchester has historically been a leader of innovation and progress. Yet, in its approach to tackling air pollution it lags behind.
This isn't just about buses and taxis, it's about our children gasping for breath in A&E. It's about the 1,200 early deaths a year in Greater Manchester linked to dirty air.
Tackling air pollution must move away from the pro or anti car debate, to one that speaks to the public health emergency it presents, and the city's leaders must lead the way.
We wouldn't let our children drink dirty water. So why do we let them breathe dirty air?
At Asthma + Lung UK, we're calling on the Mayor of Greater Manchester, city councillors and national government to come back to the table, this time with a real plan. A plan that meets not just outdated legal limits, but the standards set by the World Health Organization. A plan that listens to the science and puts people's health above political convenience.
The people of Manchester deserve better. Our children deserve better. And they can't wait any longer.
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