Investigating the air quality surrounding new schools in England: polluted playgrounds and school buildings are a source of avoidable harm
Objective To assess levels of pollutants at the sites of new schools and whether pupils are likely to be protected from associated risks. Setting Air pollution causes damage to children’s health by increasing respiratory tract infection rates, asthma exacerbations, allergies and childhood cancers. Further effects include poorer neurocognitive outcomes and multisystemic illness in adulthood. Design We obtained a list of all 187 proposed new schools in England from 2017 to 2025 and found locations for 147 of them. We assessed air quality against WHO air quality targets and the air quality percentile of the location relative to pollution levels across the UK. We review relevant legislation and guidance. Results Our analysis found 86% of new schools (126/147) exceeded all three WHO targets, and every location exceeded at least one. Nationally, 76% (112/147) of sites were in the 60th or greater pollution percentile. Within London, the median pollution percentile was the 90th, with a minimum