Children's Lung Recovery in Ultra Low Emission Zone Sparks Hope for Global Pollution Reduction

Children's lungs in London have shown impressive improvements after the introduction of an Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) in 2019, according to a recent study. The research, conducted by a team of scientists from Queen Mary University of London, followed over 3,400 primary school children in London and Luton, comparing their lung growth and capacity before and after the implementation of Ulez.

The study found that children in London whose lung growth had been stunted by pollution showed significant improvements after the introduction of Ulez. The researchers measured the children's lung capacity by testing how much air they could forcibly breathe out in one second after a big breath in. The results showed that the children's lung capacity in London had accelerated to catch up with the control group in Luton, reaching near-identical levels.

The study's lead author, Dr. Helen Wood, emphasized that the results were very promising, but there was no room for complacency. "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," she said.

The improvements in lung capacity in London could have significant implications for the children's health. According to Prof. Chris Griffiths, a senior author on the study, the results showed that the children in London could run as fast as the Luton group without getting out of breath or blow out of the same number of candles, for example.

The study also highlighted the importance of considering other factors that may influence the results. Prof. Anna Hansell, at the University of Leicester, who was not involved in the study, noted that the geographical comparisons between London and Luton were important as there had been general reductions in air pollution over time.

| Measure | London (before Ulez) | London (after Ulez) | Luton | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Lung capacity | Smaller in capacity | Near-identical levels | Near-identical levels | | Nitrogen dioxide exposure | Higher | Lower | Lower | | Proportion of children with clinically impaired lung capacity | 14% | 9% | 9% |

The study's findings have global relevance, as more than a billion kids living in cities around the world are exposed to polluted environments. The researchers emphasized that the study provided new evidence to inform the debate on clean air zones and their impact on businesses and individuals.

The work involved researchers from the Universities of Bedfordshire, Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, and Southern California, and is published in the Lancet Public Health. The study's results offer hope for reducing pollution levels in cities worldwide and improving the health and well-being of children living in these environments.