Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah died from dangerous levels of air pollution in 2013 (Family handout)
(Picture: PA Media)It’s 10 years ago to the day that nine-year-old Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah died following a severe asthma attack. In the preceding three years, Ella — who lived near the South Circular Road in Lewisham — had been to hospital almost 30 times and suffered multiple seizures. In December 2020, she became the first person in the UK to have air pollution listed as a cause of death.
In the past decade, conditions have improved somewhat in certain areas but the pace of change has been nowhere near sufficient. As reported in today’s Evening Standard, 16 of the worst pollution hotspots in England are in London. Indeed, the capital has reported illegal levels of air pollution since 2010.
