The London Congestion Charge Improves Pollutions Levels And Life Expectancy Moderately

Editor's Choice
Main Category: Water - Air Quality / Agriculture
Also Included In: Public Health;  Respiratory / Asthma
Article Date: 12 Mar 2008 - 0:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

The London Congestion Charge Scheme may have created a "modest benefit" for levels of air pollution and life expectancy in the city, according to research published on February 28, 2008 in the BMJ Specialist Journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine

The Mayor of London introduced this vehicle levy in several designated areas 5 years ago to the month, hoping to ease traffic in central London during normal working hours. Originally, the Congestion Charge Zone covered an area of 21 square kilometers, in which resided 200,000 people. Last year, it was extended west to a larger area. This research focused on the original zone, assessing the impact of air pollution on health within the zone as well as in London as a whole.

The researchers used models of annual air pollution based on measurements of changes in traffic flow across London. Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and particulate matter were measured and interpreted to an expected increased life expectancy due to reduced exposure to these pollutants. It was shown that, in London as a whole, there was little change in pollutant levels. However, there were more pronounced reductions in the charging zones. The most affected pollutant was, NO₂, while the comparatively smaller drops in particulate matter were attributed to different sources of pollution. However, the drops in both pollutants were most prolific in the most deprived areas of London.

This results in an estimated 1,888 additional years of life gained in the overall population of Greater London, which has a total of 7.2 million people, and 683 years of life gained in the population of the Congestion Charge Zone (approximately 370,000 people.)

Air pollution and mortality benefits of the London Congestion Charge: spatial and socioeconomic inequalities
C Tonne, S Beevers, B Armstrong, F Kelly, P Wilkinson
Occup Environ Med 2008
doi: 10.1136/oem.2007.036533
Click Here For Abstract

Written by Anna Sophia McKenney
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today