\n Raised air quality standards due to London\u2019s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) have been linked to better lung growth in children, research has found.<\/p>\n
Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) \u00a9 Alena Veasey \/ Shutterstock.com.
\n Raised air quality standards due to London\u2019s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) have been linked to better lung growth in children, research has found.<\/p>\n
According to a study by Queen Mary University of London, the improved air quality following the introduction of London\u2019s ULEZ<\/strong><\/a> contributed to the restoration of lung growth \u2018previously stunted by exposure to air pollution\u2019.<\/p>\n The research was based on lung capacity measurements of 3,400 children aged 6-9 who attended 84 different primary schools in London and Luton.<\/p>\n Data accumulated over the five-year period revealed that the lung size and health of the children in London had \u2018accelerated and improved\u2019 until equal to that of the children in Luton, with progress largely being linked to air quality enhancements<\/strong><\/a> after the ULEZ was rolled out.<\/p>\n It also found that the number of children with clinically impaired lung function had lowered from 14% to 9% in London, while Luton\u2019s ratio had reduced from 9% to 7%.<\/p>\n Dr Helen Wood,\u00a0Research Fellow at\u00a0Queen Mary and lead author, said: \u2018We already knew that the ULEZ reduced air pollution but now we know that children\u2019s lung health has improved at the same time, which is a really important finding for children and parents living in London.<\/p>\n \u2018However, we must not be complacent. Air pollution in both London and Luton \u2013 as well as other cities across the UK \u2013 remains above WHO guideline levels, so there is still work to be done.\u2019<\/p>\n