A new study by Queen Mary University London is investigating the impact of pollution on children in London.
3000 primary school pupils in the capital will take part in the research to assess whether air pollution affects their mental health or brain development.
The ‘Children’s Health in London and Luton’ study will compare pupils’ mental health in schools inside London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone to that of pupils outside it, in Luton.
The children’s wellbeing will be measured using different computer-based tasks and questionnaires. The games are designed to test things like memory, information, processing, and reaction speed.
Dr Ian Mudway, co-designer of the study, said: “A lot of evidence has begun to emerge to suggest that air pollution not only has an impact on the lungs and the heart- but also on the brain”.
“And that begins to make you wonder what happens to children that are developing because clearly there are little bursts in development in early life in your cognitive abilities and then as you transition to adolescence”.
£300,000 has been invested in the study, which will last three years.
Jemima Hartshorn, founder of ‘Mums for Lungs’, a group of London parents campaigning for cleaner air for future generations, says the mental health impact of air pollution goes beyond this study.
She said: “If you have an asthmatic kid you’re going to be stressed and scared about your kids health…People who cannot do sports outdoors because their asthma gets too bad- they aren’t getting the exercise and breaks they need from daily life.
So the wider impact on mental health is much broader than any of these studies have been looking at so far.”
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HeadlineNew study launched to investigate impact of London’s pollution on children
Short HeadlineImpact of London's pollution on children to be studied
Standfirst85 London primary schools are taking part in the new research project by Queen Mary University
A new study by Queen Mary University London is investigating the impact of pollution on children in London.
3000 primary school pupils in the capital will take part in the research to assess whether air pollution affects their mental health or brain development.
The ‘Children’s Health in London and Luton’ study will compare pupils’ mental health in schools inside London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone to that of pupils outside it, in Luton.
The children’s wellbeing will be measured using different computer-based tasks and questionnaires. The games are designed to test things like memory, information, processing, and reaction speed.
Dr Ian Mudway, co-designer of the study, said: “A lot of evidence has begun to emerge to suggest that air pollution not only has an impact on the lungs and the heart- but also on the brain”.
“And that begins to make you wonder what happens to children that are developing because clearly there are little bursts in development in early life in your cognitive abilities and then as you transition to adolescence”.
£300,000 has been invested in the study, which will last three years.
Jemima Hartshorn, founder of ‘Mums for Lungs’, a group of London parents campaigning for cleaner air for future generations, says the mental health impact of air pollution goes beyond this study.
She said: “If you have an asthmatic kid you’re going to be stressed and scared about your kids health…People who cannot do sports outdoors because their asthma gets too bad- they aren’t getting the exercise and breaks they need from daily life.
So the wider impact on mental health is much broader than any of these studies have been looking at so far.”
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