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UK Inquiry Looks into Role of Air Pollution in Death of Girl

Agence France-Presse

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

   Then9years old, Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrahdied February 15, 2013,of a
   serious asthma attack after nearlythreeyears of repeated attacks and
   more than 30 hospitalizations related to thedisease.

   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 orderedbecause ofnew
   evidence regarding air pollution risks, highlighted in a report in
   2018.

   This second investigation, which begins Monday and will last two weeks,
   will examine the levels of pollution to which Ella hadbeen 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 UnitedKingdomto have
   air pollution as the cause of death.

   'Striking link'

   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 theBritishMinistries of Transport, Environment and
   Health will be heard, as well as Holgate.

   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 struggle to get this investigated, with obstacles
   in the way. I want justice for Ella and the true cause of her death
   written onherdeath certificate,"Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrahsaid in a
   statement, before 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 siblings, encouraging them to succeed, their doing
   sports,"shesaid.

   According to figures from thecity 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 age 4 were.2% more likely to be
   hospitalized with asthma on days when nitrogen dioxide pollution is
   high."

   LondonMayor Sadiq Khan said last month, citingsupporting figures,that
   air quality had improved since 2016. He highlighted the measures put in
   place since his election, includingenforcementlast year of an
   "ultra-low emission zone" (ULEZ)thatforces the drivers of the most
   polluting vehicles to pay a daily tax on entry.

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