First Evidence That London’s Scheme to Cut Car Emissions Worked To Improve Child Health

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London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), introduced in April 2019, has demonstrated measurable benefits for children’s respiratory health, according to new research published in The Lancet Public Health. The emissions-reduction policy, which restricts high-polluting vehicles from central London, represents the first documented evidence that such clean air initiatives directly improve lung development in young residents.

Scientists tracked lung function in approximately 3,400 school children aged six to nine over five years, comparing youngsters in central London with peers in Luton, a town without similar emission restrictions. Before the ULEZ’s implementation, London children showed notably stunted lung growth compared to their Luton counterparts. However, following the policy’s launch, London children’s lung function improved significantly, increasing by approximately 10 milliliters per year faster than Luton children’s measurements. Within four years, the gap had essentially closed.

The improvements coincided with substantial reductions in nitrogen dioxide pollution levels, which fell by 54 percent at roadsides in central London. Additionally, the proportion of children with clinically impaired lung function decreased from 14 percent to 9 percent over the five-year period. Beyond health metrics, parents and children reported noticing cleaner air and reduced traffic congestion, while children became four times more likely to walk or cycle to school.

While the findings provide strong evidence supporting clean air zones as effective health interventions, researchers emphasize that pollution levels in both cities remain above World Health Organization guidelines, indicating continued need for air quality improvements.

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Originally reported by Sciencealert →