London Ulez Boosted Children's Lung Growth, Queen Mary Study Finds After £12.50 Daily Charge
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Aug 23
London Ulez Boosted Children's Lung Growth, Queen Mary Study Finds After £12.50 Daily Charge
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 23
Summary
Queen Mary University London found children’s lungs grew bigger and stronger after London restricted the most polluting vehicles through its ultra-low emission zone.
The scheme, launched in 2019 and expanded in 2021 and 2023, charges non-compliant vehicles £12.50 a day and has sharply reduced nitrogen dioxide levels.
The findings mark a notable shift for a city where 6,000 to 8,000 premature deaths a year were once linked to dirty air, and where Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah’s 2013 death was later ruled caused by pollution.
London’s experience is being watched by other cities, but officials and researchers say clean-air zones still face political backlash, misinformation and trade-off fears despite evidence of health gains.