Responding to the Mayor of London's announcement that the ULEZ will be expanded across Greater London, Sarah Woolnough, CEO at Asthma + Lung UK, said:
“The expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is a huge win for everyone’s lungs. Asthma + Lung UK is delighted that the Mayor of London has listened to our campaigners. It is particularly significant for the 360,000* people with a lung condition in outer London who will now be included in the ULEZ. We hope this will lead to fewer premature deaths and fewer hospital admissions linked to air pollution.
“Breathing in toxic air not only puts people at risk of potentially life-threatening asthma attacks and dangerous COPD flare-ups, it can also lead to the development of lung conditions. We urge other polluted cities to follow in London’s footsteps by introducing ambitious Clean Air Zones to protect everyone’s right to breathe cleaner air.”
References
*The data on lung conditions in London was compiled from QOF prevalence data from GP registers on asthma clinal prevalence, 609,274 in Greater London have a lung condition including 364,687 who live in outer London. The data is available from: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/qu….