The introduction of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) appears to have improved lung growth in children living in the capital, a study has revealed.
Researchers from Queen Mary University of London assessed more than 3,400 children and found that air quality improvements were “strongly associated” with accelerated lung growth.
The team recruited over 3,400 children aged 6-9 from 84 primary schools in London and Luton, with Luton acting as a comparison site with a similar mix of traffic pollutants but no clean air zone.
The children’s lung size and health were measured and monitored at annual school visits from 2018 to 2022 to assess the impact of air quality changes on their lung development, following the introduction of the ULEZ in London.
Initial lung capacity measurements taken before the ULEZ was introduced showed that children in London had significantly smaller lungs compared to children living in Luton, a finding consistent with the team’s previous work.
Looking at data collected...