AQW 5627/22-27

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 06/02/2024
Answered On Date: 15/02/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health for his Department's assessment of the findings from the Queen's University and others' research on the impact of poor air quality on mortality.

Answer:

Air quality is the lead responsibility of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and we continue to work closely with colleagues in relation to related health outcomes.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is aware of the Northern Ireland pollution dashboard which compares pollution over time with World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended thresholds. The dashboard can report changes in pollution over time. PHA colleagues are also aware of a range of research in this area, including recent research from Queen’s university and the Royal College of Physicians’ 2016 report “Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of exposure to air pollution” and would support initiatives from DAERA to implement WHO standards to improve the health of the population of Northern Ireland.

The Executive’s overarching strategic framework for Public Health, Making Life Better (MLB), recognises that health and wellbeing is influenced by many factors, including the wider physical environment. Numerous studies point to the physical and mental health benefits of access to green spaces and better air quality. MLB includes a commitment to protect and promote good health and wellbeing through working collaboratively to improve air quality to achieve objectives and targets established to protect health.