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London ULEZ linked to improved lung growth in children
A five-year study published in The Lancet Public Health has found that London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is linked to improved lung growth and function in children. The research, known as the Children's Health in London and Luton (CHILL) study, monitored over 3,400 children aged six to nine between 2018 and 2022.
Before the ULEZ was implemented in 2019, children in London exhibited significantly smaller lung capacities than a control group in Luton. However, by the end of the study, London children's lung capacity and health had accelerated to reach levels comparable to those in Luton. The study noted that nitrogen dioxide exposure in London fell twice as fast as in Luton, and for every year of declining exposure, London children saw an additional 10ml increase in forced expiratory volume (FEV1) compared to the control group.
Additionally, the proportion of London children with clinically impaired lung function dropped from 14% to 9%. Researchers from Queen Mary University of London and Imperial College London emphasized that these findings provide strong evidence that clean air zones can mitigate the developmental damage caused by traffic-related air pollution, which otherwise increases long-term risks for asthma, cardiovascular disease, and premature death.
Entities
Breathe London · Imperial College London · Kayla Schulte · London · Luton · Queen Mary University of London · Sadiq Khan · Ultra Low Emission Zone
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Small sensors are being used in the Breathe London monitoring network. arabic.euronews.com · it.euronews.com · www.euronews.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] Nitrogen dioxide levels decreased by 27% across London. arabic.euronews.com · it.euronews.com · www.euronews.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) reduced PM 2.5 levels by 31% in outer London. arabic.euronews.com · it.euronews.com · www.euronews.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Black carbon levels in the UK are lower than global levels. arabic.euronews.com · it.euronews.com · www.euronews.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Compact sensors allow for pollution monitoring in locations previously inaccessible to bulky equipment. arabic.euronews.com · it.euronews.com · www.euronews.com
- [● 9 SOURCES] London children's lung capacity reached near identical levels to the Luton control group by the end of the five-year study. www.bbc.co.uk · airqualitynews.com · www.bbc.com · olaygazete.co.uk · www.upday.com · +4 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] For every year of falling nitrogen dioxide exposure, children’s FEV1 increased by an additional 10ml in London compared with children in Luton. airqualitynews.com · www.upday.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The study was published in The Lancet Public Health. airqualitynews.com · www.upday.com · www.news-medical.net · www.standard.co.uk
- [● 3 SOURCES] The proportion of London children with clinically impaired lung function fell from 14% to 9%. airqualitynews.com · www.upday.com · www.independent.co.uk
- [● 2 SOURCES] London children's nitrogen dioxide exposure fell twice as fast as in Luton following ULEZ implementation. airqualitynews.com · www.upday.com
- [● 6 SOURCES] The CHILL study followed more than 3,400 children aged six to nine from 84 primary schools in London and Luton between 2018 and 2022. airqualitynews.com · olaygazete.co.uk · www.news-medical.net · www.independent.co.uk · www.standard.co.uk · +1 more