Scientists stunned by children's lung recovery in ultra low emission zone
Wednesday, 19 August 2026
Warm-up
- How clean is the air where you live or go to school?
- What rules or policies can reduce traffic pollution in a city?
- How does air quality affect daily life for children and parents?
Vocabulary
- stunted
- Slowed or limited in normal growth or development.
- emission
- Gas or particles released into the air, often from vehicles.
- zone
- An area that has special rules or limits.
- accelerate
- To speed up or make something happen faster.
- impaired
- Weakened or damaged so it does not work fully.
- exposure
- The state of being in contact with something, like polluted air.
- implement
- To put a plan or policy into action.
- opposition
- Disagreement with a plan or policy, sometimes shown in protests.
Reading
Scientists in London report that young children’s lungs began to recover soon after the city introduced its Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) in 2019. A study led by Queen Mary University of London tracked more than 3,400 pupils aged six to nine in London and in Luton for five years. Before Ulez, London children showed stunted lung growth compared with their Luton peers. After the policy cut traffic emissions, growth accelerated and lung capacity in the two groups became nearly the same.
Researchers measured how much air children could force out in one second. The share of London pupils classed as clinically impaired fell from 14% to 9%, while Luton moved from 9% to 7%. Exposure to nitrogen dioxide also declined faster in London. The zone first charged older, more polluting vehicles in central areas and was later expanded across the capital.
Independent experts welcomed the results but urged caution, noting Covid-19 and travel changes could also play roles. They said clean air zones, if well implemented, can protect vulnerable lungs, though debate and political opposition are likely to continue.
Comprehension
- What policy did London introduce in 2019?
- How many children were tracked, and in which places?
- What happened to London children’s lung growth after Ulez began?
- How did the rate of clinically impaired pupils change in London?
- Which pollutant fell faster in London than in Luton?
Grammar focus
Mixed conditionals
A mixed conditional joins two different times. A past cause with a present result: 'If they had left earlier, they would be here now.' (Examples constructed.)
- If Ulez had not cut emissions, children would be suffering now.
- If pollution were still high, pupils would have shown stunted growth.
Grammar exercise
Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
- If auditors (flag) ___ the gap, the fund would be solvent now.
- If oversight (be) ___ stricter, the breach would have surfaced.
- If the board (disclose) ___ risk, trust would be higher now.
- If capital (cost) ___ less, the merger would have gone ahead.
- If MPs (close) ___ the loophole, revenue would be stable now.
Discussion
- Should more cities create clean air zones like Ulez? Why or why not?
- How would road charges affect your family’s travel choices?
- What is a fair way to help owners of older, polluting cars?
- Who should pay most to clean city air: drivers, firms, or taxpayers?
Vocabulary, reading, and exercises with instant feedback