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Sadiq Khan reports significant lung growth improvements in London children following the introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone

The administration announced that London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) has significantly improved the lung capacity of primary school children. A study published in The Lancet Public Health followed over 3,400 children in London and Luton over five years, revealing that children in London initially had poorer lung function than those in Luton. However, as pollution levels fell, the London children's lungs grew at a faster rate, eventually reaching near-identical levels to the Luton group. Prof Chris Griffiths, a senior author of the study from Queen Mary University of London, noted that the speed of this recovery was surprising. The research indicates that ambitious clean air zones can rapidly restore stunted lung growth caused by traffic-related pollution. While the results are promising, Dr Helen Wood, the lead author, cautioned that air quality in both cities remains above World Health Organization guidelines. Sadiq Khan emphasized that the policy was designed to protect the most vulnerable people rather than simply punishing motorists, providing evidence that it is never too late to act on air quality improvements.

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