A five-year study of over 3,400 children shows that lung capacity in London children improved significantly after the introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) in 2019.
Key facts
- •The study followed more than 3,400 primary school children in London and Luton over a five-year period.
- •London's Ulez, introduced in 2019, requires older, more polluting vehicles to pay a daily charge to operate in the city.
- •The proportion of London children with clinically impaired lung capacity decreased from 14% to 9% during the study.
- •Researchers from several institutions, including Queen Mary University of London and the University of Southern California, conducted the study.
- •The findings were published in the journal Lancet Public Health.
Researchers have reported that children living in London experienced accelerated lung growth following the 2019 introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez). The study, which tracked more than 3,400 primary school children in London and Luton over five years, found that London children's lung capacity reached levels nearly identical to those of their counterparts in Luton, despite initially lagging behind.
By the numbers
Study Methodology and Findings
The research team compared children aged six to nine from London's Ulez area with a control group in Luton, matching them by socio-economic background, physical activity, and ethnicity. Over four years of testing, researchers observed that the proportion of London children with "clinically impaired" lung capacity dropped from 14% to 9%. In Luton, where smaller-scale air quality measures were implemented, the rate fell from 9% to 7%. Prof. Chris Griffiths of Queen Mary University of London stated that the speed of the recovery was "surprising and impressive." The study, published in the Lancet Public Health, suggests that the reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels—which fell faster in London than in Luton—likely contributed to the improved lung development.
Expert Perspectives and Limitations
Independent experts noted the study's importance while advising caution. Prof. Anna Hansell of the University of Leicester highlighted that the comparison with Luton helped account for general air quality improvements and pandemic-related changes. However, other researchers, including emeritus professor Kevin McConway, suggested that further study in other cities is necessary to account for unmeasured differences between the two locations and the full impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Lead author Dr. Helen Wood emphasized that while the results are promising, air pollution levels in both London and Luton remain above World Health Organization guidelines. Researchers noted that clean air zones remain a complex policy area with impacts on businesses and individuals that must be considered.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by BBC Health.
