Lay Summary 

Almost every nursery in England is exposed to unsafe air pollution 

Background 

Air pollution harms everyone, but young children are especially vulnerable because their lungs and brains are still developing. Fine particles in the air, known as PM₂.₅, can enter the lungs and bloodstream and have been linked to asthma, reduced lung growth, and heart problems. Although air quality in the UK has improved in recent years, we do not know how much pollution children are exposed to where they spend most of their time — in nurseries and preschools. 

What we did 

We studied air pollution around more than 21,000 nurseries and other childcare providers in England between 2018 and 2022. Using government data on air quality (from DEFRA) and information on nursery locations, we calculated annual average levels of PM₂.₅ for each site. We also compared pollution levels in different types of areas — urban or rural, more or less deprived, and by ethnic composition of the local community. 

What we found 

• Although air pollution decreased by about 18% from 2018 to 2022, 96% of nurseries were still above the World Health Organization’s recommended safe level of 5 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³). 

• Nurseries in deprived neighbourhoods had slightly higher pollution levels than those in wealthier areas. 

• Nurseries in urban and more ethnically diverse communities also had higher exposure than those in rural or majority-white areas. 

• The highest pollution was found in Greater London, Birmingham, and parts of the Midlands and South East of England. 

Even small differences in pollution matter — studies show that increases of less than one microgram per cubic metre can still affect lung growth and increase asthma risk when experienced by many children. 

Why it matters 

Most young children in England spend many hours each week in nurseries. Breathing polluted air at this early stage of life could have long-term effects on their health. Reducing pollution around childcare settings is a simple way to help all children start life in a healthier environment. 

Next steps 

We recommend targeted action to lower traffic emissions near nurseries, expand green spaces, and strengthen air-quality monitoring. We will share the results with local councils and policymakers working on clean-air initiatives. 

Funding and partners 

This research was funded by Administrative Data Research UK (ESRC/UKRI), Health Data Research UK, the Wellcome Trust, the Natural Environment Research Council (WM-Air), and the NIHR GOSH Biomedical Research Centre. 
The study was a collaboration between UCL, Northumbria University, University of Birmingham, UK Health Security Agency, Swansea University, and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. 

Link 

The full paper, “Towards Cleaner Air: PM₂.₅ Exposure and Disparities Around Childcare Providers in England,” is published in Environmental Research (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.123172