A nine-year-old girl has become the first person in the UK to have air pollution officially recorded as a cause of death. Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, who lived near the South Circular Road in Lewisham, south-east London, died in 2013 following a severe asthma attack.
At Southwark Coroner's Court, coroner Philip Barlow concluded that air pollution 'made a material contribution' to her death. He stated that Ella had been exposed to 'excessive' levels of pollution, with nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels near her home exceeding World Health Organization and EU guidelines. The inquest heard that in the three years before her death, she had multiple seizures and was admitted to hospital 27 times.
Ella's mother, Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, welcomed the verdict, saying: 'We've got the justice for her which she so deserved.' She highlighted the ongoing issue of high air pollution levels in cities. Professor Gavin Shaddick, a government adviser on air pollution, called the ruling 'a landmark decision'.
The case has sparked calls for emergency action, including expanding London's clean-air zone for vehicles out to the M25 and improving infrastructure for walking and cycling. However, experts note that completely cleaning the air in major cities remains a challenge due to multiple pollution sources such as gas boilers, construction equipment, and brake dust.
