Cruz, Joana, Li, Guangquan, Rammah, Amal, Zhong, Jian ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1026-8695, Shoari, Niloofar, Akaraci, Selin, Hajna, Samantha, Hart, Caroline, Chamberlain, Rosemary C., Mitsakou, Christina, Exley, Karen, Bloss, William, Fry, Richard, Cummins, Steven and Hardelid, Pia (2025) Towards cleaner air: PM2.5 exposure and disparities around childcare providers in England. Environmental Research, 288 (Part 1):123172. ISSN 0013-9351 (doi:10.1016/j.envres.2025.123172)

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Abstract

Air pollution poses a significant health risk for young children, particularly in urban and deprived areas. Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) during early life may contribute to long-term adverse health outcomes. This study examined changes in PM2.5 concentrations around Early Years Providers (EYPs; childcare providers) in England from 2018 to 2022. We assessed associations between small-area socio-demographic characteristics and exposure levels exceeding the World Health Organisation (WHO) 2021 annual air quality guideline (>5 μg/m3). We integrated data on EYPs locations from Ordnance Survey with annual PM2.5 estimates from DEFRA using Geographic Information Systems and socio-demographic indicators — deprivation, urbanicity, and ethnic composition. A Bayesian spatial regression model with random effects was used to estimate adjusted associations between PM2.5 levels and local population characteristics. The number of EYPs ranged from 15,780 in 2018 to 18,427 in 2019. Mean PM2.5 levels around EYPs changed by 17.8 % over the study period (from 9.4 μg/m3 [SD = 1.8] in 2018 to 7.8 μg/m3 [SD = 1.5] in 2022). However, PM2.5 levels at over 96 % of EYPs remained above the WHO, 2021 annual guideline throughout. Higher PM2.5 concentrations were observed in EYPs located in more deprived, urban, and predominantly non-white communities. Despite recent improvements, PM2.5 levels around most EYPs in England remain above recommended thresholds. Targeted interventions in deprived urban areas are needed to reduce young children's exposure and address environmental health inequalities.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	air pollution, Bayesian, environmental justice, geospatial, nurseries, paediatric
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences Q Science > Q Science (General) Q Science > QA Mathematics
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Engineering & Science Faculty of Engineering & Science > School of Computing & Mathematical Sciences (CMS)
Last Modified:	17 Nov 2025 14:41
URI:	https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/51600

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