Air Quality and NCDs

Air pollution is the leading environmental risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and responsible for an estimated seven million premature deaths worldwide every year. The fine particles in polluted air that penetrate deep into the lungs and cardiovascular system can lead to many diseases and medical conditions, including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), pneumonia, stroke and heart disease. Air pollution-related diseases place a significant burden on public health systems, whilst also damaging the economy by reducing human performance and increasing sick days.

NCDs disproportionately affect people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where more than three quarters (32 million) of global NCD deaths occur. This project is applying a transdisciplinary approach to address the significant risks of NCD by focusing on air quality within the urban settings of LMICs. The project aims to generate evidence to conceptualise and co-design strategies to address air pollution in the Ugandan cities of Kampala and Jinja, and to replicate these strategies in other urban settings in LMICs.