London's children exposed to illegally-high levels of air pollution

Tens of thousands of children in a quarter of London’s schools are being exposed to illegally-high air pollution, a study has found.

The report, commissioned by London mayor Sadiq Khan, showed that pupils at 802 of London’s schools are routinely breathing in toxic air that could permanently damage their health.

It also shows that London’s poor are far more likely to be living in areas affected by air pollution linked to 9,000 early deaths every year in the capital.

London is one of many places hit by the UK’s air quality crisis, which has caused the Government to be issued with a “final warning” by the European Commission for repeated breaches of legal limits.

Mr Khan, who has vowed to tackle air pollution, said: “It is an outrage that more than 800 schools, nurseries and other educational facilities in the capital are in areas breaching legal air pollution limits.

“We know air pollution is permanently affecting children’s lung development – resulting in smaller lungs for life.”

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“I refuse to stand by when our children are being exposed to dangerously polluted air, putting them at greater risk of serious health conditions when we know it’s within our power to tackle the problem.”

Mr Khan plans to introduce measures including air quality audits to help schools identify ways to protect their children from “filthy air” and has already announced the introduction of a £10 “toxicity charge” for drivers of some of the oldest and most polluting cars in central London from October.

The latest research shows that 802 of the capital’s 3,261 nurseries, primaries, secondary schools and colleges in 2013 were within 150 metres of nitrogen dioxide levels that breached the EU limit.

The number of schools affected nearly doubled from 2010 when it was 433.

A Government spokesman said it is “firmly committed” to improving air quality and cutting harmful emissions, having committed more than £2 billion since 2011 to increase the uptake of ultra-low emissions vehicles and supporting greener transport schemes and setting out a new programme of Clean Air Zones.

“In addition, in the Autumn Statement, we announced a further £290 million to support electric vehicles, low emission buses and taxis, and alternative fuels,” he said.

“We will update our air quality plans in the spring to further improve the nation’s air quality.”