Air pollution a cause in girl's death, coroner rules in landmark case
Coroner says failure to reduce pollution levels to legal limits was factor in death of Ella Kissi-Debrah, who had severe asthma
Sandra Laville Wed 16 Dec 2020 08.23 EST
A coroner has made legal history by ruling that air pollution was a cause of the death of a nine-year-old girl.
Philip Barlow, the inner south London coroner, said Ella Kissi-Debrah’s death in February 2013 was caused by acute respiratory failure, severe asthma and air pollution exposure.
He said she was exposed to nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter (PM) pollution in excess of World Health Organization guidelines, the principal source of which were traffic emissions.
Ella Kissi-Debrah lived within 30 metres of London’s South Circular road. Photograph: PA
65
Continued on page 66 ...