Air pollution in the UK is a public health emergency. Over 40,000 a year die prematurely in the UK from dirty air. East Sussex is no stranger to air pollution.

Public Health England estimates that 61 people a year die prematurely in Eastbourne from particulate air pollution. Live data on particulate air pollution in the Eastbourne area can be seen at www.eastbourneair.com

Many people are surprised that Eastbourne, a seaside town, should have any air pollution at all, but the data from official air monitors show that the town does experience harmful air pollution. Eastbourne is one of the towns on the World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality database which is updated regularly. The update for 2018 is at: http://www.who.int/airpollution/data/cities/en/ and reveals that Eastbourne is at the level at which significant impacts to human health can be ascertained, according to WHO. Articles in the press about the WHO data discuss this:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/may/12/eastbourne-a-surprise-name-among-uks-most-polluted-towns-and-cities

https://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/eastbourne-at-the-limit-for-unsafe-air-pollution-levels-says-who-1-8484429

Eastbourne & District Friends of the Earth took part in a recent citizen science air pollution survey by Friends of the Earth and discovered an air pollution hotspot (for nitrogen dioxide) in Eastbourne that was unknown to the authorities. This Eastbourne hotspot was amongst the list of new hotpsots featured in this report issued by Friends of the Earth:

Unmasked: the true story of the air you’re breathing