Moving out of city's air pollution helped my asthma

Twenty-year-old Lou Muir is severely asthmatic.

Growing up in the centre of Portsmouth in Hampshire her family thought inner-city pollution was making her worse.

They felt the fumes from the roads around their home was directly impacting her health, at times her asthma was so bad that she couldn't breath.

Two years ago they decided to move out of the city and say the results have been remarkable.

At her worst Muir's asthma resulted in lengthy stays in the city's Queen Alexandra Hospital where inpatient care was part of her life, sometimes as often as four times a year.

Portsmouth City Council said it is "confident" that its long-term approach to tackle air pollution will bring "real and lasting improvements to air quality and public health".

The family now live in nearby Waterlooville, it is less than ten miles from the city but the environment is much less built-up and has more open spaces, including parks and woodland.

"I've actually not been admitted to hospital since then, my lung capacity is getting quite good," says Muir.

"I can go on more walks now because I don't feel as breathless when I go outside."

While leaving Portsmouth was a huge thing to do Muir's mum, Kelly Inch, says it was worthwhile: "It was daunting but absolutely worth every move we made.

"Brilliant for the pollution, brilliant for the air and the environment. I definitely know we made the right move, without a shadow of a doubt."

Muir agrees: "I can just do lots, it makes me happy and I can dance five days a week and not get sick and I can go to college and not get sick."

In 2024, air pollution was linked to up to 43,000 deaths a year in the UK and is the largest environmental impact on health - with children, the elderly and clinically vulnerable, most affected.

There is strong evidence to show it accelerates the progression of coronary heart disease, stroke, respiratory diseases, dementia and lung cancer.

A spokesperson at Portsmouth City Council said: "Air pollution has a clear and harmful impact on both the environment and people's health."

They added that the council's Clean Air Strategy "takes a long-term approach" and that it is "confident" there will be "real and lasting improvements to air quality and public health."

In January 2026, organisations across the city signed the Portsmouth Clean Air Pledge, including the council, NHS trusts, the naval base and international port.

The council said recent progress included investment in ship-to-shore power at the port, allowing ferries and cruise ships to switch off engines while alongside.

It said there had been "measurable improvements in air quality", that it was working with the NHS and encouraging local people to choose to walk or cycle more and make more use of public transport.

A new report from the Clean Air South network is highlighting efforts being made to tackle air pollution in the wider South of England.

It brings together initiatives from local councils, businesses, charities and the University of Southampton.

The university's Sue Littlemore, who is part of the steering group, said: "Air pollution is a serious and complex public health issue which doesn't have a single cause or a single solution.

"Instead, it requires a concerted and multi-pronged approach.

"Meaningful progress is already being made and recognising these successes and sharing good practice is key to driving further change."

The report from Clean Air South also highlighted other successes including the introduction of 62 zero-exhaust-emission buses in Portsmouth that have made nearly four-million journeys, an app that directs walkers in Southampton along less polluted routes and public awareness campaigns about wood burning that saw significant reductions in emissions.

It is also backing a programme to train healthcare workers on the impacts of air pollution and projects to engage young people including citizen science air pollution monitoring, an anti-idling campaign, and a youth theatre production.

According to NHS data collected by Asthma and Lung UK

NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board:

• There were nearly 29,000 emergency admissions for respiratory conditions in 2024-2025.

• More than one in 10 emergency respiratory admissions in 2024/2025 were for children aged 15 and under (3,035 admissions).

• Children aged 15 and under had the highest share of all emergency asthma admissions during 2024-2025, accounting for 18% of all asthma emergency admissions (275 admissions).

University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust:

• During 2024/2025, there were 1,000 respiratory emergency admissions for children aged 15 and under – including 100 asthma admissions.

• One in five emergency asthma admissions during the 2024/25 season were children aged 15 and under.

Portsmouth University Hospitals NHS Trust:

• During 2024/2025 there were 545 respiratory emergency admissions for children aged 15 and under – including 40 asthma admissions.

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