Majority of Scots surveyed concerned about air quality near schools

Get tougher on toxic air pollution around schools warns lung health charity.

Released on 18th June 2026

Asthma + Lung UK Scotland is urging the Scottish Government to take bolder steps to help tackle air pollution to protect public health, ahead of Clean Air Day, 18 June.

The charity says this should include banning vehicle idling near schools, nurseries, hospitals and care homes and enforcing it, as well as having air pollution monitors outside schools. 

The next ‘Cleaner Air for Scotland’ strategy is due to be published at the end of this year, but no date has yet been announced.

The call comes after polling commissioned by the charity of 1,000 people in Scotland, showed concern about air quality around schools, with the majority favouring better monitoring of air pollution and wanting vehicle idling banned.  

The polling showed:

  • 3 out of 5 (61.2%) respondents are concerned about air quality at schools with only 9% saying they were not concerned at all.
  • Nearly 4 out of 5 (78.7%) said vehicle idling outside schools gates should be banned
  • Over 3 out 5 (64.9%) would like to see air pollution monitors introduced outside schools.1 

High levels of air pollution can cause asthma attacks requiring hospitalisation. Dirty air can cause new lung conditions and aggravate existing ones like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).2

Air pollution near schools is particularly harmful as it can stunt the growth of children’s lungs. They also breathe more rapidly than adults, meaning they take in more pollutants.3   

The charity is echoing a recent call from the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh who have called for a pilot project to put air pollution monitors outside schools after their research showed that across five Scottish cities, over 60% of schools were more than one kilometre from the nearest air quality monitor.4

Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung UK Scotland said:

“Lung health in Scotland is one of the worst in Europe. Action is needed to tackle air pollution and lower the levels of nitrogen dioxide, to align with World Health Organisation guidelines and help protect people’s lungs.

“Scotland needs a new and updated clean air strategy to provide clear targets and commitments to help ensure better air quality. This would include stricter enforcement of car idling and better air pollution monitoring to help protect all our lungs, but especially those that are vulnerable like children.

“Our polling shows this is what the majority of people in Scotland want to see happen. 

“Children should be safe to play and learn without the hidden dangers of toxic air from idling cars polluting their still developing lungs.

“The new Scottish government must make air pollution a priority and introduce a bold new clean air strategy to show it’s serious about tackling toxic air.”

Professor Jill Belch, Co-chair of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh’s Air Pollution Working Group, said:

“It is good to see the four Scottish Low Emission Zones showing decreased air pollution after their introduction, but in Scotland we still see about 2,700 deaths every year associated with dirty air.

“Further, people living in areas with higher pollutant concentrations are more likely to experience a wide variety of health problems, including respiratory conditions such as asthma, heart conditions, birth complications and cancers.

“A worrying feature is the permanent effect such dirty air has on our children; the evidence suggests that when lung growth is harmed as a baby or in early childhood, this significantly increases the risk of asthma later in childhood, and into adulthood.

“We cannot wait for another generation of children to be harmed and must act to protect them now by reducing air pollution.”

ENDS

Reference:

  1. Opinion Matters on behalf of Asthma + Lung UK Scotland surveyed 1,000 adults in Scotland and 3 in 5 (61.2%) are concerned about the air quality at schools. Combining those who said ‘strongly agree’ or ‘agree’ to the following statement: Are you concerned by air quality at schools.

     Opinion Matters on behalf of Asthma + Lung UK Scotland surveyed 1,000 adults in Scotland and nearly 4 in 5 (78.7%) want idling banned near schools. Combining those who said ‘strongly agree’ or ‘agree’ to the following statement: Vehicle idling at school gates should be banned.

    Opinion Matters on behalf of Asthma + Lung UK Scotland surveyed 1,000 adults in Scotland and over 3 in 5 (64.9%) would like to see air pollution monitoring outside schools. Combining those who said ‘strongly agree’ or ‘agree’ to the following statement: I would like to see air pollution monitoring introduced outside schools.

  2. Journal of Thoracic Medicine. Accessed 1 June. Air pollution and chronic airway diseases: what should people know and do? - PMC
  3. World Health Organization (WHO). More than 90% of the world’s children breathe toxic air every day. Accessed 1 June. https://www.who.int/news/item/29-10-2018-more-than-90-of-the-worlds-children-breathe-toxic-air-every-day
  4. Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh press release, dated 29 May 2026 Scotland’s MSPs Urged to Back Pilot Programme for Air Pollution Monitoring Around Schools

Methodology:  

The research was conducted by Opinion Matters, among a sample of 1,000 Adults aged 16 + in Scotland. The data was collected between 19.12.25 - 06.01.25. Opinion Matters abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Opinion Matters is also a member of the British Polling Council