Labour MP Fleur Anderson has welcomed new research indicating that damage to children’s lungs associated with air pollution can begin to reverse as air quality improves, pointing to the impact of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone.
The Putney MP said the findings would provide reassurance to parents concerned about the effect polluted air has on their children’s health.
The research, highlighted by the BBC, examined children growing up in London and found improvements in lung development following reductions in harmful air pollution associated with measures including ULEZ.
Responding to the findings on X, Anderson said:
“Fantastic!
“Putney parents will be as relieved as I am: new research shows that children’s lungs damaged by air pollution can recover when the air is made cleaner thanks to ULEZ.
“Thank you for your leadership @MayorofLondon.”
The findings are significant because previous research has linked exposure to traffic-related air pollution with impaired lung development in children. Poorer lung function during childhood can have consequences for health later in life.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan introduced and subsequently expanded ULEZ as part of City Hall’s efforts to reduce harmful emissions from road transport.
The scheme requires vehicles which do not meet minimum emissions standards to pay a daily charge when driven within the zone, encouraging the replacement of older, more polluting vehicles.
The latest research adds to evidence that reductions in pollution can deliver measurable health benefits, particularly for children whose lungs are still developing.
For Anderson, the issue has particular relevance in Putney, where concerns over traffic congestion and air quality have long been raised by residents and campaigners.
The Labour MP has been a prominent advocate for improving air quality and reducing children’s exposure to pollution, including around schools.
The findings will also strengthen the argument made by Khan and other supporters of ULEZ that the policy should be judged not only as a transport or environmental intervention but as a public-health measure.
Anderson said the evidence demonstrated the importance of continuing efforts to clean up London’s air, particularly for children growing up alongside busy roads.
