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Pollution Stunts Lung Growth in 5,000 Children

5/30/2026

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Story summary
  • Researchers led by Prof. Ann Hansell reported that particle pollution and nitrogen dioxide exposure slows children's lung development.
  • The study followed over 5,000 Bristol-area births from the 1990s, measuring spirometry at ages 8, 15 and 24.
  • Higher pollution exposure during pregnancy and early childhood linked to slower lung growth that persisted into adulthood, especially in adolescence, raising future risk of respiratory and heart disease.