Improved Child Lung Function Linked to London’s Ultra-Low Emissions Zone

London’s introduction of the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (Ulez) has significantly improved lung function in children affected by air pollution, according to a new study.

The investigation monitored 3,400 schoolchildren both before and after the implementation of Ulez, a strategy that imposes charges on drivers of highly polluting vehicles in London.

Findings revealed that before Ulez, London’s children had considerably smaller lungs than those living in nearby Luton. Remarkably, five years after Ulez was put in place, the lung size and function of London’s children were on par with those of children in Luton.

This groundbreaking study, spearheaded by Queen Mary University of London, observed a significant drop in the percentage of children with impaired lung function in London, from 14% to 9%, after introducing Ulez. In contrast, Luton only experienced a slight decrease from 9% to 7% during the same period.

Dr Helen Wood, the study’s lead author and research fellow at Queen Mary University, stated, “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.”

Yet, she cautioned that air pollution in both London and Luton, as well as in other UK cities, still exceeds recommended levels. “There is still work to be done,” she concluded.

Image: Angel Santana Garcia