A new independent study published by Queen Mary University of London indicates that the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (Ulez) is improving the lung health of children in London. The research, which tracked the lung growth of more than 3,400 children in Luton and central London between 2019 and 2024, found notable changes.
Before Ulez was introduced, children in London reportedly had significantly poorer lung function compared to those in Luton. However, during the five years the Ulez was in force, children's exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in London decreased at twice the rate observed in Luton. By the end of the study, young Londoners' lung function had reportedly caught up.
The study also observed a reduction in the proportion of children in London with clinically impaired lung function, which fell from 14% to 9% over the research period. This suggests that reducing air pollution may help children whose lungs have been affected by toxic air to recover.