Air pollution is restricting lung development in children, putting them at risk of lifelong breathing disorders
Children exposed to air pollution due to increased diesel use are showing poor lung capacity in London city.
This puts them at risk of lifelong breathing disorders, according to a new research published in The Lancet Public Health journal. Air pollution is a leading cause of global mortality, with the World Health Organization estimating over four million deaths annually caused by outdoor air pollution.
Children are especially vulnerable and at risk of lifelong breathing disorders, asthma attacks, chest infections and earlier death.
According to a World Health Organisation report, 14 out of the 20 most polluted cities in the world are in India with Delhi being the most polluted city. More than 2 million deaths occur in India prematurely every year, accounting for 25% of the global deaths due to poor air quality.
“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“
Professor Chris Griffiths from Queen Mary University of London said: “Despite air quality improvements in London, this study shows that diesel-dominated air pollution in cities is damaging lung development in children, putting them at risk of lung disease in adult life and early death.”
“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,” he added.
London introduced city-wide Low Emission Zones (LEZ) in 2008 to protect residents from air pollution. LEZ restrict or penalise vehicle entry into urban areas to encourage the uptake of lower emission technologies. This study looked at evidence whether LEZs improve air quality or public health.
2,164 children aged 8-9 were enrolled into the study from 28 primary schools in the London (all areas which fail to meet current EU nitrogen dioxide limits). Children’s health and exposure to air pollutants were monitored over five years from 2008.
The study found that children exposed to air pollution showed significantly smaller lung volume (a loss of approximately 5 per cent in lung capacity). This was linked to annual exposures of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and other nitrogen oxides (NOx), both of which are in diesel emissions, and particulate matter (PM10). Introduction of LEZ showed small improvements in NO2and NOx levels, but no improvements in PM10 levels. Despite these improvements in air quality, there was no evidence of a reduction in the proportion of children with small lungs or asthma symptoms over this period.
Dr Samantha Walker, Director of Research and Policy at Asthma UK, said: “It is disappointing that the Low Emission Zone in London has not helped to improve children’s lung capacity and shows that a piecemeal approach to reducing air pollution does not work. If children’s lungs don’t develop properly as a result of air pollution it can increase their likelihood of developing asthma, leaving them coughing, wheezing and at risk of a life-threatening asthma attack. The Government needs to tackle toxic air by putting in place a new Clean Air Act to keep everyone, especially children, safe.”
