By Sara Antonioli – 

Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah’s story shocked the nation when she became the first UK resident to have air pollution on her death certificate, at just 9 years old [1]. London, like many world cities, is facing the ever growing threat of air pollution (figure 1). Congestion has been one of the main areas targeted as explained by Tonne et al. (2007) [2]. In February 2003 the Congestion Charging Scheme (CCS) was established with the aim of reducing congestion in Central London [2]. It is currently set at a daily cost of £15 for driving into the zone (7:00-22:00) [3].

Figure 1. Pollution seen from Grange Road over parts of SE London
Image: Chris L L

Reducing emissions can save lives. Reducing the levels of NO2 could lead to a 26 year increase of life per 100,000 people in Greater London. In addition, a gain of 183 years per 100,000 people is possible within the charging zone [2]. NO2 is strongly linked to asthma which Ella suffered from [4,1]. The congestion charge should help to bring about emission reductions and in 2003, it was a pioneering scheme in terms of its scale but other cities including Oslo and Stockholm also have similar schemes [2,5].

Monitoring traffic could be the solution to the air crisis. In the charging zone, a 26% fall in annual average daily traffic for cars and 7% for heavy goods vehicles was observed with the introduction of the congestion charge [2]. It must be noted that this success is on a local scale, within the charging zone [2]. Lowering road traffic is crucial as it makes up 25% of NO2 emissions in Greater London [2]. On the contrary, it only accounts for less than 10% of PM10 emissions, so the root of the PM10 problem is elsewhere.

London is unequal and air pollution certainly has not escaped this trend. Deprived areas of London have to endure the consequences of higher concentrations of both NO2 and PM10 [2]. In fact, Ella lived in an area where NO2 levels were above those set out by the WHO and people are not informed of the lethal risk this poses [1].

Has there been success elsewhere? Dublin is a prime example of a success where bituminous coal was banned and as a result cardiovascular deaths fell by 10% [2]. In addition, Hong Kong limited the use of high sulphur fuel and this restriction is thought to have led to a 31 day life gain over the space of 2 years for each person [2]. These measures need to be taken now to prevent further deaths; over the space of 100 years anthropogenic particles could lead to a loss of 39 million years of life in the UK alone [6].

Next time you complain about paying the congestion charge, take a moment to consider that this has been put in place to save lives. Ella cannot be saved but thousands of children can and as Ella’s mother put it ‘all children have the right to breathe clean air’ [1].

References and further reading:

[1] BBC (21.4.21) Air pollution: Coroner calls for law change after Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah’s death.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-56801794 [4.12.21]

[2] Tonne, C., Beevers, S., Armstrong, B., Kelly, F. and Wilkinson, P. (2007) Air pollution and mortality benefits of the London Congestion Charge: spatial and socioeconomic inequalities. Occupational and Environmental Medicine

[3] Transport For London (ND) Congestion Charge. https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge [5.12.21]

[4] EPA (ND) Basic Information about NO2 https://www.epa.gov/no2-pollution/basic-information-about-no2[5.12.21]

[5] The Guardian (8.12.11) Congestion charges around the world https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/dec/08/congestion-charges-around-the-world [5.12.21]

[6] DEFRA (1.4.13) An economic analysis to inform the air quality strategyhttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/221088/pb12637-icgb.pdf [5.12.21]