New analysis finds air pollution deaths in London have fallen by around 40 per cent since 2019
New research from Imperial College London’s Environmental Research Group suggests the number of deaths linked to air pollution in London has fallen by around 40 per cent since 2019, alongside significant reductions in harmful pollutants across the capital.
The analysis, commissioned through Imperial Projects, found substantial declines in both nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) over the past five years. The findings come as City Hall highlights the impact of measures introduced to reduce emissions across London, including the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). According to the research, nitrogen dioxide levels have fallen by 41 per cent since 2019, while PM2.5 levels have dropped by 28 per cent.
Researchers also applied updated scientific methods to estimate the health impacts of long-term air pollution exposure. Using the same methodology for both years, they estimate that deaths attributable to air pollution fell from around 6,400 to 8,000 in 2019 to approximately 3,800 to 5,100 in 2024.
The study says this reflects a substantial reduction in the health burden associated with air pollution across London.
The capital’s first 24-hour ULEZ was introduced in central London in April 2019 before expanding to inner London in 2021 and then to all London boroughs in August 2023. The scheme now covers more than nine million residents and is described by City Hall as the largest clean air zone of its kind in the world.
The report found that the highest numbers of deaths attributable to air pollution per 100,000 residents in 2024 were recorded in outer London boroughs including Bexley, Havering and Sutton. Researchers noted that older populations in these areas may be particularly vulnerable to illnesses associated with poor air quality.
The findings follow separate research from Imperial College London published earlier this month, which found that London’s Toxicity Charge and central London ULEZ were associated with reductions in hospital admissions. That study linked the schemes to a 9.3 per cent reduction in annual trends for heart-related emergency admissions and a 5.1 per cent reduction in annual trends for hospital admissions across all health conditions within the scheme area.
Researchers also highlighted growing evidence linking air pollution exposure to a range of health conditions, including dementia, type 2 diabetes and childhood asthma. The updated scientific evidence used in the latest analysis suggests the health impacts of air pollution were greater than previously understood.
Despite the improvement, long-term exposure to air pollution is still estimated to contribute to between 3,800 and 5,100 premature deaths across London each year. The associated economic cost is estimated at between £3.8 billion and £5.1 billion in 2024.
The study says improvements in air quality reflect both the impact of measures introduced to cut emissions and longer-term pollution trends. In 2024, London met legal limits for nitrogen dioxide pollution for the first time.
Have you noticed changes in air quality where you live or work in London? Share your experience of how air pollution has changed in your area over recent years. Explore more London environment and public health coverage at EyeOnLondon.
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