1 week ago
London Study Finds Cleaner Air May Improve Children’s Lung Growth
Children’s lungs keep growing as they get older.
Dirty air from traffic can make it harder for lungs to develop well.
Researchers studied children in London and Luton for five years.
London introduced a cleaner-air zone that reduced some pollution.
At first, London children had slightly smaller lungs than children in Luton.
Over time, their lungs grew faster than the lungs of the children in Luton.
After four years, the difference had almost disappeared.
The study suggests that cleaner air may help children’s lungs grow more normally, although it cannot prove the clean-air zone caused every change.
Researchers followed more than 3,400 children in London and Luton for five years.
London children initially had slightly smaller lung capacity and higher nitrogen dioxide exposure than those in Luton.
After the Ultra Low Emission Zone began, London children’s lung capacity grew about 10 millilitres more per year on average.
After four years, average lung capacity was nearly identical in the two groups.
The study linked cleaner air with improved lung growth but did not prove the ULEZ alone caused every improvement.
- Who
- More than 3,400 children aged six to nine at the start of the study, living in London and Luton, were studied by researchers.
- What
- The study examined whether reducing traffic pollution through London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone was associated with better lung growth in children.
- Where
- London and Luton, England.
- When
- The children were followed for five years, beginning before the ULEZ started in April 2019; results were assessed over four years after its introduction.
- Why
- Researchers sought to determine whether cleaner urban air could improve children’s lung development.
Key facts
- Study publication
- The Lancet
- Participants
- More than 3,400 children
- Age at enrollment
- Six to nine years
- Study duration
- Five years
- Lung growth difference
- London children’s lung capacity increased about 10 millilitres more per year on average
- Clinically impaired lung function in London
- Fell from 14% to 9% over four years
- Comparison city
- Luton, where no clean-air zone was introduced
Sources
Related news
London Study Shows Traffic Cuts Improve Children’s Lung Health
London ULEZ Study Finds Children’s Lungs Can Recover
London's Housing Crisis Drives Away Its Most Valuable Residents
Ludhiana Completes Punjab's First Tree Census, Maps 2 Lakh Trees
UK School Warns Parents Ahead of Prince Harry's Children's Enrollment
Chelsea Start Xabi Alonso Era With 3-2 Fulham Win
Ashwagandha Tablets for Anxiety Relief
Climate Heat Stress Threatens India’s Children and Elderly
India Proposes Red Front-Pack Warnings for High-Nutrient Foods
Minimally Invasive Bypass Surgery Enables Faster Recovery, Study Finds
India Drops Food Warning Labels as Court Reviews Policy
