Rochdale man takes centre stage in Westminster air pollution exhibition

Dave Lawson, appears in "Life + Breath: Stories of Toxic Air," which will be unveiled in Parliament in September.

A Rochdale local is featured in a striking new photography exhibition by Asthma + Lung UK, aimed at spotlighting the harsh realities of air pollution. Dave Lawson, 41, appears in "Life + Breath: Stories of Toxic Air," which will be unveiled in Parliament on Wednesday 11 September.

The exhibition, shot by renowned photographer Chris O'Donovan, includes ten powerful portraits of individuals from across the UK, all living with lung conditions exacerbated by toxic air. Among them is Dave, a sports coach from Rochdale, who battles bronchiectasis – a condition that makes breathing increasingly difficult, especially in the heavily polluted Greater Manchester area.

Dave’s health has suffered due to years of exposure to harmful air, particularly living near a busy commuter road. This has severely impacted his quality of life and ability to work, forcing him to adapt his daily routine to cope with the constant pollution. "Every day, I feel the toll polluted air takes on my lungs," Dave shared.

"It’s exhausting to always be on edge, just trying to get through simple tasks without triggering a breathless episode."

Greater Manchester holds the grim record for the highest nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution levels in the UK, surpassing even London. NO2 levels in the region are now over five times the World Health Organization’s safe limit.

Dave’s story is part of a wider call to action, as Asthma + Lung UK urges the government to set stricter air quality targets and reintroduce a Clean Air Act.

The charity stresses the need for urgent reforms to protect vulnerable communities from the ongoing public health crisis caused by air pollution.

Tim Dexter, Clean Air Lead at Asthma + Lung UK, remarked, "Air pollution is a national emergency that demands swift action. People like Dave shouldn’t have to live in fear of the air they breathe. This exhibition is a wake-up call to our policymakers to take decisive action."

Photographer Chris O'Donovan captured each portrait with the aim of confronting MPs with the human cost of inaction. He said, "I wanted these images to challenge those in power, asking them directly: ‘What will you do to tackle this crisis?’"

The exhibition is set to run on 11 September 2024 at the Houses of Parliament.