London – Exposure to traffic fumes could be slowing children’s progress at school, a study suggests.
Scientists have linked pollution to lower cognitive development – a finding which raises serious questions about British schools.
Researchers found primary pupils exposed every day to car fumes developed less quickly than children whose schools enjoyed cleaner air. The findings, published last night in an international medical journal, comes as the Government faces charges of breaking EU laws on air quality.
Officials will be forced to explain in London’s Supreme Court next month why air pollution is illegally high in 16 UK cities. MPs have also called for air filters to be installed in 1,000 British schools which are close to main roads, as evidence builds of the dangers of the fumes that hang over much of the country.
The latest study, published in PLOS Medicine, details the results of a year-long investigation at 39 Spanish schools. Researchers monitored 2,715 children aged seven to ten, assessing their memory and attentiveness.
The team, from the Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology in Barcelona, found that pupils at schools with clean air made far more progress over the 12 months than those at schools polluted with high levels of nitrogen dioxide and ultra-fine particles.
For example, pupils at schools with clean air showed an average improvement in working memory of 11.5 per cent over the year, compared to 7.4 per cent at polluted schools.
The researchers wrote: ‘The findings suggest that the developing brain may be vulnerable to traffic-related air pollution well into middle childhood, a conclusion that has implications for the design of air pollution regulations and for the location of new schools.’
Sixteen cities – including London, Manchester and Glasgow – have been failing EU air quality targets since 2011. The European Court of Justice ruled in November that the UK was in breach of EU law and should have created plans to tackle air pollution in the 16 cities by last month.
The European court ruled that the UK’s Supreme Court now has jurisdiction over the matter. The court is due to hear the case on April 16.
Alan Andrews, of Client Earth, which brought the Supreme Court case, said: ‘The more we know about the health impacts of air pollution, the clearer it becomes that the Government must tackle it urgently. Sadly, instead of protecting children, the Government is fighting against its legal responsibilities in court.’
The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs said: ?Air quality has improved significantly in recent decades and we are investing heavily in measures across government to continue this, committing £2billion since 2011 in green transport initiatives.’
Daily Mail