London Ulez: Scientists stunned by children's lung recovery
A study of over 3,400 children shows London's Ultra Low Emission Zone introduced in 2019 helped improve lung growth stunted by pollution.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Researchers tracked over 3,400 primary school children in London and Luton for five years.
- London children's lung capacity caught up to Luton levels following Ulez implementation.
- The proportion of children with clinically impaired lungs dropped from 14% to 9%.
- Experts warn that urban air pollution still remains above WHO guideline levels.
A major study has revealed that children in London whose lung growth had been stunted by air pollution showed impressive improvements after the launch of an Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) in 2019 successfully cut emissions. The research followed more than 3,400 primary school children in both London and Luton, providing what scientists consider the strongest evidence yet that local clean air zones can help mitigate childhood pollution damage. However, independent researchers caution that other contextual factors must also be taken into account.
Air pollution can stunt young children's lung development, leaving them at a higher risk of asthma, heart disease, diabetes, and even premature death. Children are especially vulnerable because their lungs and immune systems are still developing, while outdoor exposure places them closer to the ground and exhaust fume sources. Back in 2020, Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, a nine-year-old girl from London who passed away following an asthma attack in 2013, became the first person in the UK to have air pollution officially listed as a cause of death.
In the study, researchers recruited children aged six to nine attending primary schools within London's ultra low emission zone and followed the same cohort for five years, comparing them with peers of similar socio-economic backgrounds, physical activity, and ethnicity in Luton. Participants underwent annual lung function and capacity tests in the year before Ulez launched and for four subsequent years. Initial findings indicated that London children possessed smaller lung capacity than those in Luton, a city with lower pollution levels but a comparable pollutant mix. By the study's conclusion, however, lung capacity in both groups reached near-identical levels.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Prof Chris Griffiths, a senior author of the study from Queen Mary University of London, shared his astonishment with the BBC upon first reviewing the data. The speed at which the London cohort caught up in lung capacity proved both surprising and striking. The primary test measured the volume of air a child could forcibly exhale in one second following a deep breath. Practically speaking, Griffiths explained, these enhancements meant London children could run as swiftly as their Luton peers without becoming breathless or successfully blow out an equal number of birthday candles.
"I was absolutely stunned when I first saw the results. The speed of catch up in lung capacity in the London group was surprising and impressive."
Prof Chris Griffiths, Queen Mary University of London
Another lung capacity testing method utilized in the study also registered significant progress, though not to the exact same degree, suggesting further potential for gains remains. Overall, the proportion of London children classified as having clinically impaired lung function—signifying lung damage resulting in persistent coughs or breathlessness—dropped from 14% to 9%. In Luton, where smaller-scale pollution measures were enacted, figures shifted from 9% to 7%. Furthermore, measurements demonstrated that nitrogen dioxide exposure levels fell at a faster rate in London than in Luton over the study period.
London's Ulez policy stands as one of the most stringent urban emission control schemes, requiring older, more polluting vehicles to pay a daily charge within central zones before expanding citywide. While widely supported, the measure also sparked political controversy and street protests. This study adds crucial empirical evidence to help inform ongoing debates regarding the balance between economic impacts on individuals and businesses versus the long-term public health benefits for the younger generation.
Prof Anna Hansell from the University of Leicester, who was independent of the study, noted that the enhanced lung function observed in children will likely yield lifelong health benefits. She added that the timing proved particularly useful given that the study period overlapped with the Covid-19 pandemic, demonstrating that the London findings were unrelated to pandemic shifts. Meanwhile, Prof Kevin McConway from the Open University emphasized the importance of accounting for broader pandemic impacts. Lead author Dr. Helen Wood from Queen Mary University of London stressed that despite promising outcomes, there is no room for complacency since air pollution across London, Luton, and other UK cities remains above WHO guidelines. The research involved academics from the Universities of Bedfordshire, Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, and Southern California, and was published in Lancet Public Health.
Source: BBC Health
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