Air Pollution Slows Lung Growth in UK Children, Longitudinal Study Finds

A cohort of over 5,000 Bristol-area births from the 1990s was tracked to age 24, when lung capacity peaks. Spirometry at ages 8, 15 and 24 measured lung volume and flow. Exposure to fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide—estimated from road-traffic data for each pregnancy trimester and each early-childhood year—was associated with slower lung growth, especially in adolescence.

The Independent

Earlier research in east London showed nine-year-old children exposed to higher pollution had lungs 90–100 ml smaller, while a Swedish study linked improved air quality to faster lung growth. The new UK data suggest that reduced lung reserve may raise long-term respiratory and cardiovascular risk, as low adult lung function mirrors the risk of high cholesterol.

The IndependentThe Guardian

The study was led by Prof Anna Hansell and first-author Dr Katie Eminson, University of Leicester, using traffic data from Bristol City Council.

The Guardian

Exposure estimates covered each pregnancy trimester and each early-childhood year. Spirometry revealed the largest lung-growth deficit during adolescence; the cohort’s average loss was not quantified, mirroring the 90–100 ml reduction seen in east London.

The Independent

Hansell said it is highly plausible that pollution hampers child lung development, raising later disease risk. Eminson noted the modest effects should not be dismissed because lung function persists across life, urging protection of children’s environments.

The Guardian

The Bristol cohort’s exact average lung-volume loss was not reported, preventing direct comparison; only particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide were examined.

The Independent

• “Prof Anna Hansell, of the University of Leicester, who led the study, said: “Much of the evidence on health effects of air pollution relates to adults or pregnancy, but we think it’s highly plausible it has impacts on growth and development of children.” — Prof Anna Hansell, University of Leicester

The Guardian

• “Those whose lungs didn’t grow to maximum potential in childhood may be more vulnerable to the respiratory diseases of later life because they have a lower reserve.” — Prof Anna Hansell, University of Leicester

The Guardian

• “For instance, low lung function in adults is associated with the same level of risk of heart disease as having high cholesterol.” — Prof Anna Hansell, University of Leicester

The Guardian

• “While the effects in individual children are small and unlikely to have immediate clinical consequences, they shouldn’t be dismissed. Because lung function tends to track from childhood into adulthood, small differences early in life may have implications for long-term health. This reinforces the importance of reducing exposures and protecting children’s environments.” — Dr Katie Eminson, University of Leicester

The Guardian

The findings, published in *PLOS Medicine*, call for ongoing monitoring and emission reductions near homes.

The Independent