Air pollution contributed to death of schoolgirl, coroner concludes

Nine-year-old becomes first UK person to have air pollution listed as cause of death

Air pollution contributed to death of schoolgirl, coroner concludes
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Air pollution has been listed as a cause of death of a girl who died following an asthma attack, a landmark ruling has found.

The nine-year-old became the first person in the UK to have air pollution listed as a cause of death, further highlighting the effect of vehicle exhaust emissions. 

Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, who lived near the South Circular Road in Lewisham, south-east London, died in 2013.

Southwark Coroner’s Court found that air pollution “made a material contribution” to Ella’s death.

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At the conclusion of the two-week inquest, coroner Philip Barlow said Ella had been exposed to “excessive” levels of pollution.

The inquest heard that in the three years before her death, she had multiple seizures and was admitted to hospital 27 times.

Delivering a narrative verdict, Mr Barlow said levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) near Ella’s home exceeded World Health Organization and European Union guidelines.

He added: “There was a recognised failure to reduce the levels of nitrogen dioxide, which possibly contributed to her death.

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“There was also a lack of information given to Ella’s mother that possibly contributed to her death.”

Giving his conclusion over almost an hour, the coroner said: “I will conclude that Ella died of asthma, contributed to by exposure to excessive air pollution.”

Ella’s mother Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, said: “We’ve got the justice for her which she so deserved.

“But also it’s about other children still, as we walk around our city of high levels of air pollution.”

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