NEW research by the ground-breaking Born in Bradford (BiB) study has revealed the extent of Bradford residents’ worries about pollution in the city.

The research, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, aims to find out the impact of proposed changes in the city to combat pollution and was set up in response to Bradford’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ).

The team surveyed 1,996 Bradford residents, including 1,154 families who have been participating in the BiB study since their children were born.

They found that only 1 in 8 of people surveyed thought that air quality in Bradford was good, and two-thirds thought that it was extremely important to improve air quality in the city.

More than 70 per cent of the sample said they supported the introduction of a CAZ in Bradford, with just under half reporting that they thought it would improve air quality, and two-thirds reporting that it would improve the health of their families and community.

“Born in Bradford research has provided vital evidence showing the terrible consequences that polluted air has on the health of children living in the city,” said Professor Rosie McEachan, director of the study.

“Over the last 15 years Born in Bradford has shown the harm of air pollution – from stunting the growth of babies to contributing to the high rates of asthma in the city.

"These new findings show that Bradford residents share our concerns and the vast majority support the implementation of initiatives to reduce pollution, like the proposed Bradford Clean Air Zone.”

Dr John Wright, Director of the Bradford Institute for Health Research, part of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The tragedy is that it is Bradford’s children who are harmed most by air pollution.

“Clean Air Zones are one of the most effective ways for us to protect them. Almost half the schools in Bradford will be in the Clean Air Zone and so our children will be shielded from the toxic effects of traffic-related air pollution.”

Tahira Amin lives in Bradford has two children with asthma, aged six and 15.

She said: “Pollution is a major trigger of my children’s asthma, particularly in winter.

"I’m really concerned about the exhaust fumes that my kids breathe in on the way too school and all the cars I see idling outside the school gates.

"I think the Clean Air Zone is a brilliant idea if it encourages people to use alternative methods of travel and reduce pollution.”