Dramatic fall in London’s levels of deadly pollutants after Ulez expansion

Ulez has improved London’s air quality across the board. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA

People in London have been breathing significantly cleaner air since the expansion of the ultra low emission zone (Ulez), a study has found.

Levels of deadly pollutants that are linked to a wide range of health problems – from cancer to impaired lung development, heart attacks to premature births – have dropped, with some of the biggest improvements coming in the capital’s most deprived areas.