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Exposure to air pollution has been recorded as a medical cause of death for what is believed to be the first time in the UK to investigate a nine year old girl who died after a fatal asthma attack.
Ella Kissi-Debrah died in February 2013 after suffering a fatal asthma attack.
He had suffered numerous seizures and had made nearly 30 hospital visits over the previous three years.
A 2014 investigation ruling, which concluded he died of acute respiratory failure, was overturned by the Superior Court following new evidence about dangerous levels of air pollution near his home.
She had lived 25 meters from South Circular Road in Lewisham, southeast London, one of the busiest roads in the capital.
A new two-week investigation carried out at the Southwark Coroner’s Court has been considering whether contamination in the area may have contributed to his death.
Delivering his narrative conclusion for nearly an hour, Assistant Coroner Philip Barlow said, “I will conclude that Ella died of asthma, which was contributed to by exposure to excessive air pollution.”
Giving the medical cause of death, he said: “I intend to record 1a) acute respiratory failure, 1b) severe asthma 1c) exposure to air pollution.
Mr. Barlow added: “Air pollution was a significant contributor to both the induction and exacerbations of his asthma.
“During the course of her illness between 2010 and 2013, she was exposed to levels of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter that exceed the World Health Organization guidelines.
“The main source of their exposure was traffic emissions.
“During this period it was recognized that the level of nitrogen dioxide was not reduced within the limits set by national and EU legislation, possibly contributing to his death.”
Ella’s mother, Rosamund Kissi-Debrah, and two brothers were in South London court for the ruling.
The coroner said Ella’s mother had received no information “about the health risks of air pollution and its potential to exacerbate asthma.”
“If they had given him this information, he would have taken steps that could have prevented Ella’s death,” he said.
Before the ruling, Kissi-Debrah’s lawyers said that a finding that air pollution caused or contributed to Ella’s death would make her the first person in the UK, and possibly the world, for whom the pollution air is listed as the cause of death in a death. certificate.
