A longitudinal study of over 3,400 primary school children in London and Luton found that lung function improvements occurred rapidly following the implementation of the Ultra Low Emission Zone. The research tracked six to nine-year-olds for five years, with measurements taken before and after the zone’s introduction, comparing children in the restricted area to a control group in Luton, a less polluted city with similar demographic and socioeconomic characteristics.
Initial assessments showed that children in London had smaller lung capacity than their counterparts in Luton. By the end of the study period, however, lung capacity levels reached near-identical measurements between the two groups. The acceleration in lung growth among London children was described by researchers as unexpected and significant, suggesting their lungs had “caught up” with the control group. The primary measurement tracked how much air children could forcibly exhale in one second, which researchers say translates to practical improvements such as running without breathlessness or increased physical endurance.
The proportion of London children with clinically impaired lung capacity fell from 14% to 9% over the study period, compared to a decline from 9% to 7% in Luton. Measurements of nitrogen dioxide exposure, a harmful gas produced primarily by motor vehicles, decreased faster in London than in Luton, suggesting a causal link between improved air quality and lung function recovery. The Ultra Low Emission Zone, introduced in 2019, required older and more polluting vehicles to pay a daily charge to enter central London, with restrictions later expanded citywide.
Independent experts noted that the findings were carefully conducted and that the comparison between London and Luton controlled for general air pollution reductions over time, including during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, some researchers cautioned that other variables, such as potential changes in walking or cycling behavior, should be considered when interpreting results. Air pollution can damage developing lungs in children and increase risks of asthma, heart disease, diabetes, and premature death. Lead researchers emphasized that despite the positive results, pollution levels in both cities remain above World Health Organization guideline levels, indicating ongoing public health challenges.
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