A sharp 45% rise in asthma attacks treated by GPs across England has prompted urgent calls for action on toxic air pollution, which health experts warn is now a national public health emergency.
New figures from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) reveal that 45,458 patients sought treatment for asthma exacerbations between January and June 2025 – a stark increase from 31,376 over the same period in 2024.
The spike comes just days after a damning report by the Royal College of Physicians exposed that 99% of the UK population is now exposed to harmful levels of air pollution.
The study highlighted that toxic air is responsible for around 500 deaths a week and costs the economy an estimated £27 billion annually through NHS pressures, ill health, and lost productivity.
According to the RCGP’s surveillance centre, asthma attacks this year have consistently outpaced the five-year average, raising fresh concerns over the impact of worsening air quality.
The college said environmental and lifestyle factors, particularly exposure to airborne pollutants, were major triggers of asthma attacks, which typically cause chest tightness and breathlessness.
Professor Kamila Hawthorne, Chair of the RCGP, urged ministers and city mayors to ramp up clean air initiatives. “GPs have long warned about the damaging health effects of air pollution, and these latest asthma figures are deeply concerning,” she said.
“We commend city leaders in places like London and Birmingham for taking steps such as the ULEZ scheme, but the crisis requires more widespread and urgent action—especially in the most affected communities.”
The Department of Health and Social Care is set to unveil a new 10-year health strategy next week, with a renewed focus on prevention. Professor Hawthorne insisted that tackling air pollution must form a key pillar of this plan.
“Without decisive intervention, it’s patients—particularly those in disadvantaged areas—who will continue to bear the brunt, while the NHS faces growing strain,” she warned.
Sarah Sleet, Chief Executive of Asthma + Lung UK, described the surge in asthma attacks as “deeply worrying”. She stressed that air pollution is a major threat to the UK’s estimated 12 million people living with lung conditions such as asthma and COPD.
“Air pollution can trigger life-threatening attacks and permanently damage lung health—especially in children. Yet the government continues to lack the political will needed to address this crisis,” Sleet said. “Across the UK, pollution levels remain far above the World Health Organization’s recommended safe limits.”
Professor Steve Turner, President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, echoed the call for immediate government intervention.
“We are alarmed by this rise in asthma attacks, especially among children. These events are often preventable and linked directly to elevated pollution levels,” he said.
Dr Harry Apperley, clinical fellow at the RCPCH, highlighted the disproportionate impact on children, whose smaller lungs and faster breathing make them particularly vulnerable.
“I’m increasingly seeing young patients suffering the effects of living in polluted environments. Policymakers must act—preventable harm to children’s health should never be the cost of political inaction,” he said.
A government spokesperson acknowledged the seriousness of the issue, stating: “Air pollution is a significant public health concern, and we are taking steps nationwide to reduce exposure. We’ve allocated £575 million to local authorities and are developing further initiatives to lower emissions.”
As pressure mounts on policymakers, public health experts are urging decisive, wide-reaching efforts to reduce toxic air exposure—and protect future generations from its devastating effects.
