Scientists stunned by children’s lung recovery in ultra low emission zone

• Children living in ultra-low emission zones (ULEZs) demonstrated catch-up lung growth, with lung function improving to match peers in less polluted areas—suggesting air quality improvements can reverse prior pollution-related deficits.
• The findings indicate that air pollution's impact on paediatric respiratory development is not necessarily permanent, offering evidence that clean air interventions at population level can have measurable clinical benefits.
• Clinicians should consider local air quality improvements as a potential contributing factor when assessing trends in respiratory health and lung function in children, particularly in urban areas implementing emission controls.

Children's lung capacity caught up with their peers in less polluted areas once a clean air zone came in, a study shows.

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