This PhD aims to explore the impact of air pollution on asthma in childhood, controlling for both individual and area level deprivation across England.

Linking spatially disaggregated data on air pollution and area level deprivation with microdata from the Millennium Cohort Study which contains demographic, socio-economic and health outcomes, the project will use a multilevel modelling approach to estimate the impact of air pollution on respiratory health in childhood controlling for both individual and area level socio-economic profile.

The co-location of air pollution and socio-economic deprivation is increasingly well documented and research has shown that people experiencing lower socio-economic status tend to be more exposed to air pollution, as well as being more vulnerable to air pollution and having worse health.

This relationship is important due to growing awareness of the health implications that air pollution may pose on society.

From a public health perspective, understanding the distinction and contributing magnitude of individual versus area level deprivation and air pollution on childhood asthma outcomes is important as it will allow policy makers to target the required mix of individual and community based health strategies.