Raised air quality standards due to London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) have been linked to better lung growth in children, research has found.
According to a study by Queen Mary University of London, the improved air quality following the introduction of London’s ULEZ contributed to the restoration of lung growth ‘previously stunted by exposure to air pollution’.
The research was based on lung capacity measurements of 3,400 children aged 6-9 who attended 84 different primary schools in London and Luton.
Data accumulated over the five-year period revealed that the lung size and health of the children in London had ‘accelerated and improved’ until equal to that of the children in Luton, with progress largely being linked to air quality enhancements after the ULEZ was rolled out.
It also found that the number of children with clinically impaired lung function had lowered from 14% to 9% in London, while Luton’s ratio had reduced from 9% to 7%.
Dr Helen Wood, Research Fellow at Queen Mary and lead author, said: ‘We already knew that the ULEZ reduced air pollution but now we know that children’s lung health has improved at the same time, which is a really important finding for children and parents living in London.
‘However, we must not be complacent. Air pollution in both London and Luton – as well as other cities across the UK – remains above WHO guideline levels, so there is still work to be done.’
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