Air quality and health impacts worse in densely populated Auckland neighbourhoods

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-01-10 10:07

New Zealand

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Neighbourhoods in Tāmaki Makaurau with high population density have worse air pollution and related health outcomes, according to a new study. The authors looked at health data from 2016, and nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate pollution data from 2015-17, for each Auckland neighbourhood. Respiratory hospitalisations and asthma in children were higher for more densely populated areas, and air pollution, especially nitrogen dioxide, was linked with population density. Looking at pollution sources like traffic, domestic fires, and industry, the researchers conclude that motor vehicle traffic contributes particularly strongly to air pollution, and that transport reforms to reduce such traffic should be considered when planning for denser cities.