What is the Gera Air Health Index for Tower Hamlets?

Tower Hamlets scores 1.7/10 on the Gera Air Health Index as of 2024 (rank 295 of 296 English local authorities). That is 4.2 points below the national average of 5.9/10.

What is the annual mean PM2.5 concentration in Tower Hamlets?

The population-weighted annual mean PM2.5 concentration in Tower Hamlets is 9.81 µg/m3 (DEFRA Pollution Climate Mapping model, 2024). This is above the WHO 2021 annual guideline of 5 µg/m3 and below the UK 2028 interim target of 10 µg/m3.

What fraction of deaths in Tower Hamlets are attributable to air pollution?

According to UKHSA Fingertips (indicator 93861, 2024), an estimated 7.3% of mortality in Tower Hamlets is attributable to particulate air pollution. This figure, produced by OHID from DEFRA modelled data, forms the health-context component of the Gera Air Health Index.

How is the Gera Air Health Index calculated for Tower Hamlets?

GAH = 0.6 × PM2.5_score + 0.4 × health_context_score. PM2.5_score is min-max normalised across all 296 LAs (4.20 µg/m3 = 10/10, 10.96 µg/m3 = 0/10); health_context_score is min-max normalised from UKHSA Fingertips mortality fractions (3.2% = 10/10, 8.1% = 0/10). Full methodology at /methodology/gera-air-health-index.

Is the air quality in Tower Hamlets getting better or worse?

The 2024 figures reflect the most recent DEFRA PCM modelled annual mean. UK PM2.5 concentrations have fallen substantially since 2010 due to emission reductions, but remain above the WHO 2021 annual guideline of 5 µg/m3 in most English local authorities. Tower Hamlets (9.81 µg/m3) is working towards the WHO guideline. Gera updates GAH annually when DEFRA publishes new PCM data.

Air quality in Tower Hamlets

London · ONS code E09000030

What is the air quality and health risk from air pollution in Tower Hamlets?

Tower Hamlets has a Gera Air Health Index of 1.7/10 (rank 295 of 296 English local authorities), based on a population-weighted annual mean PM2.5 concentration of 9.81 µg/m3 in 2024 — below the UK 2028 interim target, with 7.3% of local mortality attributable to particulate air pollution (UKHSA Fingertips 2024). DEFRA PCM / UKHSA Fingertips data, OGL v3.0.

Proprietary metric:Gera Air Health Index·As of 2024 · updated annual (last: 2026-06-20)

1.7/ 10

Gera Air Health Index — Tower Hamlets

Rank 295 of 296 English local authorities · 4.2 points below the national average of 5.9/10

Below UK 2028 target

Air quality data — Tower Hamlets

Gera Air Health Index data for Tower Hamlets
Metric	Value	Source
Gera Air Health Index (GAH/10)	1.7/10	GeraRent (computed)
Annual mean PM2.5 (µg/m3)	9.81	DEFRA PCM 2024
PM2.5 sub-score (0–10)	1.7	GeraRent (normalised)
Mortality attributable to particulate air pollution (%)	7.28%	UKHSA Fingertips 93861, 2024
Health context sub-score (0–10)	1.7	GeraRent (normalised)
WHO 2021 guideline met?	No (9.81 > 5)	WHO Air Quality Guidelines 2021
UK 2028 interim target met?	Yes (9.81 ≤ 10)	Environment Act 2021

Population-weighted annual mean PM2.5 (2024) from DEFRA Pollution Climate Mapping (PCM) model. Every figure is real official government data — only the composite GAH score is Gera's. Full methodology.

Personal air quality risk estimator

See how Tower Hamlets's PM2.5 level compares to WHO and UK targets for your health profile. Adjust the sliders to explore other scenarios.

Adjust the inputs below to see how different PM2.5 levels and health profiles affect your personal air quality risk assessment. Based on DEFRA PCM data and WHO risk thresholds.

PM2.5 annual mean (µg/m3)Tower Hamlets: 9.81

4 µg/m3 (cleanest)9.8 µg/m315 µg/m3 (most polluted)

Health profile

Years of exposure

1 year5 years30 years

Moderate risk· PM2.5 9.8 µg/m3

Below UK 2028 interim target but above WHO guideline. Long-term exposure raises cardiovascular and respiratory risk.

Air quality comparison against thresholds
Benchmark	Level (µg/m3)	Your area vs
WHO 2021 annual guideline	5.0	96% above
UK 2028 interim target	10.0	2% below ✓
England average (approx)	8.1	21% higher

Estimated excess cumulative PM2.5 exposure above WHO guideline

24.1 µg/m3·years

Over 5 years at 9.8 µg/m3, adjusted for your health profile (×1.0 sensitivity factor). This is an illustrative estimate, not a clinical assessment.

PM2.5 values from DEFRA Pollution Climate Mapping (PCM) 2024, population-weighted. Risk thresholds: WHO Air Quality Guidelines 2021. Health-profile sensitivity factors are illustrative multipliers based on published vulnerability evidence (WHO, COMEAP), not personalised clinical advice. Consult a healthcare professional for personal health guidance.

Tower Hamlets air quality — questions and answers

What is the Gera Air Health Index for Tower Hamlets?: Tower Hamlets scores 1.7/10 on the Gera Air Health Index as of 2024 (rank 295 of 296 English local authorities). That is 4.2 points below the national average of 5.9/10.
What is the annual mean PM2.5 concentration in Tower Hamlets?: The population-weighted annual mean PM2.5 concentration in Tower Hamlets is 9.81 µg/m3 (DEFRA Pollution Climate Mapping model, 2024). This is above the WHO 2021 annual guideline of 5 µg/m3 and below the UK 2028 interim target of 10 µg/m3.
What fraction of deaths in Tower Hamlets are attributable to air pollution?: According to UKHSA Fingertips (indicator 93861, 2024), an estimated 7.3% of mortality in Tower Hamlets is attributable to particulate air pollution. This figure, produced by OHID from DEFRA modelled data, forms the health-context component of the Gera Air Health Index.
How is the Gera Air Health Index calculated for Tower Hamlets?: GAH = 0.6 × PM2.5_score + 0.4 × health_context_score. PM2.5_score is min-max normalised across all 296 LAs (4.20 µg/m3 = 10/10, 10.96 µg/m3 = 0/10); health_context_score is min-max normalised from UKHSA Fingertips mortality fractions (3.2% = 10/10, 8.1% = 0/10). Full methodology at /methodology/gera-air-health-index.
Where does the air quality data for Tower Hamlets come from?: PM2.5 data: DEFRA Pollution Climate Mapping (PCM) model, population-weighted annual mean for 2024, published at uk-air.defra.gov.uk. Health context: UKHSA Fingertips indicator 93861 (fraction of mortality attributable to particulate air pollution), 2024. Both datasets are Open Government Licence v3.0 and reusable with attribution. The Gera Air Health Index is computed by GeraRent from these figures; the inputs are official government data.
Is the air quality in Tower Hamlets getting better or worse?: The 2024 figures reflect the most recent DEFRA PCM modelled annual mean. UK PM2.5 concentrations have fallen substantially since 2010 due to emission reductions, but remain above the WHO 2021 annual guideline of 5 µg/m3 in most English local authorities. Tower Hamlets (9.81 µg/m3) is working towards the WHO guideline. Gera updates GAH annually when DEFRA publishes new PCM data.

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PM2.5 source: DEFRA Pollution Climate Mapping (PCM) model, population-weighted annual mean 2024 (popwmpm252024byUKlocalauthority.csv), uk-air.defra.gov.uk/data/pcm-data. Health context: UKHSA Fingertips indicator 93861 (fraction of mortality attributable to particulate air pollution), 2024. Open Government Licence v3.0. The Gera Air Health Index is computed by GeraRent; full methodology at /methodology/gera-air-health-index.