Scientists stunned by children's lung recovery in ultra low emission zone
Wednesday, 19 August 2026
Warm-up
- How does air quality affect your daily life?
- What rules does your city use to reduce traffic pollution?
- How do most children travel to school where you live?
Vocabulary
- exposure
- the state of coming into contact with something, such as polluted air
- emission
- gas or particles released into the air from a source, like vehicles
- capacity
- the maximum amount something can hold or do; here, air the lungs can blow out
- accelerate
- to speed up or make something happen faster
- clinically
- in a way judged by medical standards or tests
- impaired
- weakened or damaged so it does not work fully
- nitrogen dioxide
- a harmful gas from vehicle engines that pollutes the air
- protest
- public action showing strong disagreement with a policy
Reading
Scientists tracking over 3,400 primary pupils say lung growth in London improved after the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) began in 2019. The policy targets traffic emissions by charging older, more polluting vehicles; it was later expanded citywide.
Researchers followed the same six to nine-year-olds for five years, comparing London pupils with similar children in Luton. Before Ulez, average lung capacity in London was smaller than in Luton. After four years, capacity in the London group accelerated and caught up, reaching near identical levels.
Annual tests showed the share of London children classed as clinically impaired fell from 14% to 9%, while Luton moved from 9% to 7%. Measurements also found exposure to nitrogen dioxide dropped faster in London, linking cleaner air to the recovery.
Independent experts welcomed the findings but noted other factors may play a role, such as more walking or cycling. Ulez has won support and sparked protests, yet the study suggests local clean air zones can deliver measurable health gains for children.
Comprehension
- What policy did London introduce in 2019 to cut traffic pollution?
- How many children were followed, and which two places were compared?
- What happened to London children’s average lung capacity by the end of the study?
- How did the share of clinically impaired children 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 the zone had reduced traffic earlier, children's lungs would be stronger now.
- If residents were more active today, the study would have shown different results.
Grammar exercise
Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
- If disclosure (be) ___ required, investors would have objected.
- If the board (disclose) ___ risk, trust would be higher now.
- If auditors (flag) ___ the gap, the fund would be solvent now.
- If oversight (be) ___ stricter, the breach would have surfaced.
- If the ministry (fund) ___ trials, a cure would exist now.
Discussion
- Should cities charge drivers of older cars to clean the air? Why or why not?
- What else could schools do to reduce children’s exposure to pollution?
- How would cleaner air change daily life in your community?
- When is public protest a useful way to oppose a policy?
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