ULEZ linked to faster lung growth in Barnet children, study finds

Children living in Barnet and across London developed stronger lungs after the Ultra Low Emission Zone was introduced, a study published in The Lancet Public Health has found. Researchers measured the lung function of more than 3,400 pupils aged six to nine in 84 primary schools between 2018 and 2022. They compared London, where ULEZ was introduced in 2019, with Luton, which has no clean air zone.

The study recorded a 10ml per year increase in forced expiratory volume (FEV1) among London children, a key measure of lung capacity. Nitrogen dioxide exposure, a pollutant linked to vehicle exhaust, fell twice as fast in London as in Luton over the same period. By 2022, the proportion of London children with clinically impaired lung function had dropped from 14% to 9%.

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How the study was conducted

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London, Imperial College London and other institutions visited schools annually to test children’s lung function. They focused on FEV1, which measures how much air a child can exhale in one second. The team also tracked exposure to nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant closely tied to traffic emissions.

Luton was chosen as a comparison site because it has similar traffic pollution levels but no clean air zone. At the start of the study in 2018, London children had significantly smaller lungs than their Luton counterparts. By 2022, the gap had closed, with London children’s lung function matching that of the Luton group.

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Air pollution is a global issue. If we want to improve the lives of children living in high-traffic urban environments, we need bold and ambitious measures. Our data demonstrates that clean air zones can be an effective public health intervention to prevent damage to developing lungs.

Ian Mudway, associate professor at Imperial College London

What the findings mean for Barnet

Barnet is one of the outer London boroughs where ULEZ was expanded in August 2023. The study’s authors said the results support the use of clean air zones in cities with high traffic pollution. However, they noted that other factors, such as increased physical activity during the pandemic, may have contributed to the improvements.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the research justified the decision to expand ULEZ. "This research proves we were right to act and reinforces my decision to extend the benefits of cleaner air to every child in London," he said, as reported by MyLondon. The expansion has faced opposition from some residents and businesses, who argue the daily charge disproportionately affects low-income households and small traders.

What happens next

Barnet Council is currently running a consultation on the ULEZ expansion, which closes on 29 July 2024. Residents can submit views on how the scheme affects their neighbourhoods. The Mayor of London’s office will review the responses before making a final decision, expected in autumn 2024.

The study’s authors called for similar clean air measures in other cities. Professor Chris Griffiths of Queen Mary University of London said, "Ambitious clean air zones should be considered a priority for cities globally with traffic-related air pollution." However, the researchers acknowledged that the pandemic may have influenced the results, making it unclear how much of the improvement was directly due to ULEZ.