Pollution is impacting children’s lung development in London, a study suggests.

But the low emission zone introduced to the capital more than a decade ago has improved air quality.

Findings from a study of more than 2,000 primary school children living in high-pollution zones in London, showed that those exposed to pollution had significantly smaller lung capacity.

The report noted that those children experienced a loss of approximately 5% in lung volume and that this was linked to substances found in diesel emissions.

One of the research paper’s authors, Professor Chris Griffiths from Queen Mary University in London, said:

“We are raising a generation of children reaching adulthood with stunted lung capacity.

“This reflects a car industry that has deceived the consumer and central government which continues to fail to act decisively to ensure towns and cities cut traffic.”

The observational five-year study was of children aged between eight and nine from 28 schools in four inner city boroughs – Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Greenwich and the City of London – all areas which fail to meet the current EU nitrogen dioxide limits.

A stricter ultra-low emission zone will be introduced in 2019 to cover the congestion charge area in central London as part of the drive to tackle air pollution.

The move will require vehicles driving in the congestion charge zone to meet new emissions standards at all times of the day and week, or pay a charge.

Responding to the findings, British Lung Foundation chief executive Dr Penny Woods said:

“What this means is that we urgently need to go much further to protect people right now.”

She said that the ultra-low emission zone – extended to include private vehicles, lorries and vans – will “go one step further” than the existing measures and will “drastically cut pollution levels in the capital”

London news