Marginalized Communities Suffer Worst Air Pollution in England and Wales

As of November 2025, a new analysis has found that while air pollution has fallen by a third in England and Wales over the last decade, the inequality around who is exposed to the worst levels of toxins has dramatically grown. Experts are now calling this a "grave environmental injustice."

The data shows that people of color, those on low incomes, and non-drivers are now vastly overrepresented in the 5% of neighborhoods still exposed to the most extreme air pollution. These high-pollution areas tend to be in low-income urban centers like London and Manchester.

Alarmingly, these neighborhoods are home to roughly 600,000 children, of which two-thirds are under the age of 12. There are also 1,234 schools located in these pollution hotspots. Long-term exposure to such toxic air can lead to serious health issues like asthma, lung disease, heart disease, and cancer.

In contrast, the areas with air quality better than WHO guidelines have populations where only 3% are people of color and 16% are income-deprived. Environmental justice advocates are now urging the government to take urgent action to address this stark inequality.