Abstract

Within urban areas in HICs, zones of increased air pollution occur along heavily used roads. As high-pollution zones are more likely to be located in the most-deprived neighbourhoods, and people living in these neighbourhoods are more likely to have long-term respiratory health conditions, which tend to be more severe than those experienced by people in higher socioeconomic groups, the role of air pollution in driving health inequalities is an important question. This chapter draws on published data, mainly from Europe and the USA, and considers the evidence for inequalities in air pollution exposure, and how this translates into inequalities in respiratory health.

Cite as: Grigg J. Air pollution and respiratory inequality: lessons from high-income countries. In: Sinha IP, Lee A, Katikireddi SV, et al., eds. Inequalities in Respiratory Health (ERS Monograph). Sheffield, European Respiratory Society, 2023; pp. 51–60 [https://doi.org/10.1183/2312508X.10003622].