A popular airport near Slough has been flagged in a recent study for possibly exposing vast amounts of people to dangerous health implications. 

A new study by green group Transport & Environment (T&E) suggests that thousands of cases of high blood pressure, diabetes and dementia across the UK could be linked to the tiny particles emitted by planes.

Heathrow, near Slough, has been highlighted as one of the major contributors, with almost four million people living near to the vastly busy airport. 

Around six million people - or around 9% of the UK population - that live within a 20km radius of London Gatwick, Stansted, Heathrow and Manchester airport are being exposed to ultrafine particles from aviation – with 3.5 million of those living near Heathrow. 

Not only does this pose minor health risks to many, but also could mean that more serious health issues could crop up down the line. 

The risks of suffering from diabetes and dementia are estimated to be more than 20% higher for people living within 5 kilometres from the airports analysed, whereas high blood pressure risk goes up by 7%.

Exposure to ultrafine particles may be associated with 280,000 cases of high blood pressure, 330,000 cases of diabetes, and 18,000 cases of dementia in Europe, according to the new research.

The study extrapolated reported cases of these illnesses around Amsterdam Schiphol airport and gives the first-ever estimate of health effects linked to aviation-related UFPs in Europe. 

What's more, there is nothing at the moment in law to regulated the worrying levels of UFPs.

To date, there is no specific regulation on safe levels of UFPs in the air pollution legislation, even though the World Health Organisation warned it was a pollutant of emerging concern over 15 years ago.

Paul Beckford, Policy Director, Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (HACAN), said:

“The fact that there could be negative health impacts from ultra-fine particles (UFPs) - is not news to Heathrow or the Government.

"It has been long known that the air pollution data available indicates a significant public health risk.

"It has been easy for Heathrow to blame the problem on road transport, but this study makes clear the health problems exacerbated by pollution from the planes themselves. There is no safe level of air pollution – the aviation industry and government need to act rapidly to reduce these health risks to local communities.”