The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

United Kingdom: role of air pollution in death of girl under scrutiny

2020-11-30T09:29:16.688Z


9-year-old Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, who lived near a busy London highway, died in 2013 of a severe asthma attack after nearly 3 years of repeated attacks. An investigation will examine the levels of pollution to which Ella was exposed to determine if they caused her death.


A public inquiry opens Monday, November 30 in London to determine the role played by air pollution in the death of a girl living near a busy London axis, a case that could set a precedent.

Read also: The air in the Alps polluted with heavy metals in the Bronze Age

Then nine years old, Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah died on February 15, 2013 of a serious asthma attack after nearly 3 years of repeated attacks and more than 30 hospitalizations related to this disease.

An initial investigation, in 2014, determined that she died of acute respiratory failure caused by severe asthma.

But those findings were overturned in 2019 and a new investigation was ordered due to new evidence regarding air pollution risks, highlighted in a report in 2018.

"

Striking link

"

This second investigation, which begins Monday and will last two weeks, will examine the levels of pollution to which Ella has been exposed and determine whether they caused her death.

If the coroner, charged with identifying the reason for death, concludes that air pollution directly caused Ella's death, that would set a precedent.

The girl is believed to be the first person in the UK to have air pollution as the cause of death.

Read also: In Martinique and Guadeloupe, soil and water have been polluted for centuries

Ella lived less than 30 meters from the South Circular, a busy and regularly congested route in South London.

In 2018, Professor Stephen Holgate, a British air pollution expert, noted a "

striking link

" between Ella's emergency hospitalizations and the recorded peaks of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and airborne particles, the most harmful pollutants.

The investigation will examine possible failures by the authorities to take measures to reduce pollution and inform the public about the health risks.

Officials from the Ministries of Transport, Environment and Health will be heard, as well as Professor Holgate.

"

Justice be done

"

Ella's mother, Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, will testify during the second week of the investigation.

It has been almost eight years since Ella passed away and it has been a long and difficult fight to get this investigated, with obstacles in the way.

I want justice to be done for Ella and for the real cause of her death to be listed on her death certificate

, ”Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah said in a statement, ahead of the opening of the second investigation.

She was the life and soul of our home - always playing music, dancing with my other daughter Sophia.

She had a lot of influence on her younger brothers and sisters, encouraging them to succeed, making them play sports,

”she testified.

His lawyer, Jocelyn Cockburn, considered that this new investigation represented an "

important victory

".

Read also: Climate, taxation, international solidarity: small steps and big blockages of the United States

According to figures from the City of London, 99% of the city exceeds the limits recommended by the WHO in terms of air pollution.

Last month, the Executive Director of the Clean Air Fund, Jane Burston, noted "

that children in London are 4.2% more likely to be hospitalized with asthma on days when nitrogen dioxide pollution is high

".

The Labor Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said last month with supporting figures that air quality had improved since 2016. He highlighted the measures put in place since his election, including the entry into force last year of an "

ultra low emission zone

" (ULEZ) which forces the drivers of the most polluting vehicles to pay a daily tax on entry.

Source: lefigaro

All tech articles on 2020-11-30

You may like

Trends 24h

Tech/Game 2024-03-27T18:05:36.686Z

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.