Air pollution

The emissions of major air pollutants have fallen a lot over the last three decades.

In the chart, you can see the change in emissions, compared to their 1990 levels. For example, a value of 75% would mean that emissions had fallen by 25% since 1990 (and were now 75% of what they were in 1990).

Emissions of sulphur dioxide, which were the primary driver of acid rain and dense smog, have fallen by 98%.

Nitrogen oxides have fallen by 80%, and PM2.5 by 75%.

Less progress has been made on ammonia. The majority of these emissions come from manure and fertilisers in farming. Its emissions have fallen by just 17%.

How have emissions of air pollutants changed over centuries?

The chart below shows estimates of the emissions of various pollutants since the 18th century.

You can see a steep rise in pollution throughout the 1800s and the first half of the 1900s. But since the mid- to late-20th century, emissions of most pollutants have fallen dramatically.

Estimates also exist for concentrations of air pollution, in this case, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) for a number of UK cities.

This comes from modelled estimates by Air Quality Stripes.

You can see that all cities have seen dramatic reductions in air pollution over the past four or five decades.

One of the most harmful pollutants to human health is fine particulate matter (PM2.5): particles less than 2.5 thousandths of a millimetre across, small enough to pass deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream.

In the chart, you can see average levels of this pollutant across the country, since 2009.

Using the chart options, you can also see concentrations of other pollutants. Nitrogen dioxide, which comes mostly from vehicle exhausts, has fallen dramatically. At roadside measurement stations, levels have fallen by two-thirds since 1997.

The Daily Air Quality Index rates pollution from 1 (low) to 10 (very high). At 'Moderate' or above, people with heart or lung conditions may feel the effects.

Days with particulate matter at that level have become much less common. In 2011, 20 days were at a moderate or high level. In 2025, it was just two. Nitrogen dioxide has rarely reached moderate levels at urban stations since 2020.

Most high-pollution days are caused by ozone, during hot, sunny weather. In 2025, urban stations recorded 19 days of 'Moderate' or higher ozone, the highest since this series began in 2010.

How do air pollution levels vary across local authorities?

You can see estimates of particulate matter (PM2.5) for England in the map below. Clicking on any area will show its change over time.

Pollution tends to be highest in large cities. The 20 local authorities with the highest PM2.5 levels are all London boroughs.

To tackle air pollution, we need to know where it comes from.

The chart below shows the sources of small particulate matter (PM2.5), and how this has changed since 1990.

In 1990, the largest sources were coal-fired power stations, and fuel-burning in homes. Today, it's road transport and burning fuel at home.

Most of the PM2.5 from road transport now comes from tyres, brakes and road surfaces rather than exhausts. Much of the PM2.5 from homes comes from burning wood in stoves and open fires.

Using the options on the chart, you can switch to see this breakdown for nitrogen oxides.

Long-term exposure to small particulate matter can increase the risk of a range of illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, lung disease and various cancers. It also exacerbates conditions such as asthma.

In the chart, you can see the estimated share of deaths linked to air pollution. This is often called a premature death, where someone died earlier than they otherwise would have in the absence of air pollution. This does not mean that air pollution alone caused these deaths.

The UK Health Security Agency estimates that 5.3% of deaths among adults aged 30 and over in England in 2024 were attributable to PM2.5. This is a decline from 7.1% in 2018.

The share was highest in London, and lowest in the North East and South West. Use “Add place” button to see any local authority in England, or switch to the bar chart to compare places in a single year.

England has two legal targets for PM2.5, to be met by 2040. Annual average levels must be 10 µg/m³ or lower everywhere, and people's average exposure must be at least 35% lower than in 2018.

The first is close to being met at monitoring stations: in 2025, 111 of the 114 stations in England were at or below 10 µg/m³.

Progress is still necessary to achieve the second. Since 2018, average exposure had fallen by 26%; still far from the 35% target.

Both targets are less strict than the World Health Organization's guideline, which recommends that annual average PM2.5 is less than 5 µg/m³.