London's clean air zones linked to fewer emergency hospital admissions

Emergency hospital admissions have fallen in central London following the introduction of clean air schemes, according to new research from Imperial College London.

Scientists analysed health records before and after the T-charge (2017) and Ultra Low Emission Zone (2019) were launched. Before the schemes, emergency admissions were rising by 3% per year. After their introduction, admissions decreased by 3% per year.

The research found an 8% reduction in emergency admissions for heart problems and a 6% reduction for breathing issues among people living in the central London zone.

Dr Rosemary Chamberlain, who led the research, said the team controlled for other factors to ensure the improvements were directly linked to reduced air pollution from the schemes.

Nitrogen dioxide from traffic had been reduced by around 44% on central London roads before the pandemic began. The Bradford clean air zone has shown similar benefits, with GP visits for heart and breathing problems falling by about 25%.