Abstract

Air pollution is a global problem, with its health impact disproportionately affecting certain age groups, including the elderly. It is a complex issue driven by human activities, and addressing it requires a strong focus on health literacy and risk communication. Understanding public awareness of air pollution exposure and its health consequences is essential for developing effective interventions. This study aimed to evaluate awareness of the health risks associated with air pollution among the elderly in Sunderland, United Kingdom. A total of 420 participants were recruited, and their responses to questionnaires were collected and analysed using a Chi-square test. The results showed an awareness index of 0.8, indicating that participants were generally aware of the health risks associated with air pollution in the study area. Several factors influenced awareness among older people. The Chi-square test was highly significant (p < 0.01), and the Pseudo R-square value of 0.731 indicated that the explanatory variables accounted for 73.1% of the variation in awareness levels. However, less than half of the sample was fully aware of the health risks posed by air pollution. Enhancing public awareness and promoting exposure-reduction strategies could help protect the elderly and individuals with respiratory diseases.