The mother of a nine-year-old girl who tragically passed away due to air pollution expressed her concerns about her son facing a similar fate following the implementation of a new traffic measure.
Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah shared her relief as her son Robert was recently discharged from asthma services at the hospital, a moment the family had been anxiously anticipating. Ella, her daughter, made history in the UK as the first person to have air pollution cited as a cause of death on her death certificate, seven years after her demise.
Living near the South Circular in Lewisham, southeast London, the family noticed increased traffic volume since the introduction of the Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) scheme in 2020. This scheme aims to deter traffic from residential areas, but critics argue that it simply diverts traffic to main roads like the South Circular and view it as a revenue-generating tool for councils.
Rosamund expressed her initial fears for Robert when the LTN scheme was implemented, reflecting on the challenges they faced managing his asthma. Despite the environmental impact on air quality, she praised Robert’s resilience in coping with the condition, emphasizing the chronic nature of asthma.
Ella, who also suffered from asthma, was exposed to high pollution levels, as revealed in her inquest. The official recognition of air pollution as a contributing factor to Ella’s death marked a significant milestone in the campaign for cleaner air in urban areas.
Rosamund’s advocacy for clean air intensified as Robert struggled with his health, undergoing multiple hospital visits. Robert, one of her three children, achieved a milestone as he was discharged from King’s College Hospital after years of medical care for asthma.
Efforts to monitor air quality near Ella’s residence have shown a gradual decrease in pollution levels since 2022, although they still exceed World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
Louise Krupski, the deputy mayor of Lewisham, highlighted the council’s initiatives to enhance air quality, including promoting eco-friendly transportation and implementing projects like Schools Streets and air quality monitoring stations. Data from the Laurence House Air Quality Monitoring Station indicated a reduction in NO2 levels from 2022 to 2024, though they remain above WHO guidelines.
The relocation of the air quality monitoring station in 2022, post the introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), has contributed to improving air quality, with concentrations showing a downward trend since 2022.
