COVID-19 postpones the Clean Air Zone in Birmingham until 2021 however the importance of this project remains for those with asthma.
As the UK battles the coronavirus this has led the Birmingham City Council to write to the Government requesting for the Clean Air Zone operation which was going to be established summer this year to be postponed until next year.
This is to allow the focus to be put on financially supporting businesses in Birmingham during the pandemic as they are unable to open due to the lockdown rules put in place by the Government.
This project would be beneficial to those in Birmingham with asthma.
Statistics released by Asthma UK; an organisation that focuses on researching and finding a cure for asthma, revealed that there are currently over 5 million people in the UK receiving treatment for asthma.
In similar data provided by Asthma UK revealed that in 2015/16 Birmingham had a total of 1,492 emergency asthma admissions and the poor air quality and pollution may influence this.
It was suggested in the research published in The Lancet Planetary Health (2019) that Pollution guidelines should be changed to prevent substantial asthma cases.
Prof. Stephen Holgate: Professor of Immunopharmacology at the University of Southampton commented on the research saying: “NO2 exposure is linked to new asthma. This startling discovery mandates that NO2 as a toxic pollutant is taken more seriously and more stringent limits introduced to protect the generations to come.”
How is someone with asthma affected by poor air quality?
Michelle, who has had this health condition for almost 10 years, spoke to me about what it's like to have asthma and what it is like to almost have an asthma attack.
She said: “I couldn’t breathe [and] couldn’t tell anyone to get help. It felt like I had an elephant sitting on my chest and someone had their hands over my mouth.”
When asked how poor air quality affected her asthma she said that car fumes tended to make her ‘cough and feel tight chested’
Michelle concluded that these zones would be beneficial: “[I’d] be able to enjoy normal things such as running [or] walking to the shops. If the air is cleaner all around that you’re breathing in [then you’re] less likely to have your lungs filled with fumes from daily troubles such as cars.”
Many must now wait until 2021 to experience Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone as the Government currently battles COVID-19.
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