London school children harmed by air pollution

A new report by Imperial College London confirms that school children are especially vulnerable to developing health complications as a result of poor air quality.

The report, which reveals the serious risks of air pollution on physical and mental health across a lifetime, shows that children living in London are particularly at risk of developing lifelong, chronic conditions, including poorly developed lungs, asthma, high blood pressure, inattention and hyperactivity, and mental illness.

The report references one study of 258 children in London, which revealed that on average, particle pollution (PM2.5) on their morning journey to and from school was over 50 per cent higher than in their school environment.

The children who travelled by car breathed more air pollution than those who walked along quiet roads, with the greatest PM2.5 concentrations being around 20 µg m-3. The study also revealed that walking along main roads led to the greatest exposure to air pollution at 33 per cent more than those who walked along quieter roads. Currently there is no clear evidence of a ‘safe’ level of PM2.5 exposure below which no adverse health effects occur.  

The report also finds emerging evidence suggests that air pollution begins to negatively affect people before they conceive by lowering sperm count and mobility. It can also impair normal foetal development in the womb, increasing the risk of miscarriage, low birth weight and pre-term births.
    
The report also finds that the health impacts of air pollution exposure continue well into old age, increasing the risk of stroke, dementia, cancer, multiple longer-term illness including respiratory and cardiovascular disease, and early death.