Children are more vulnerable to poor air quality, says Dundee study

Increased air pollution leads to more children being admitted to hospital with lung conditions – but does not have the same impact on adults, a study has suggested. Researchers at the University of Dundee’s medical school examined 35,000 cases over 14 years in Tayside. Their report concluded that young people may be vulnerable to much lower levels of pollution than adults. They said this strengthened the case for controversial low emission zones. The study mapped hospital admissions against increased levels of air pollution. The study was carried out as part of the Tayside Pollution Research Programme and its findings published in the journal Aerosol and Air Quality Research. Dr Munro Stewart, a GP in Dundee, believes six hospital admissions of children from his own practice could have been avoided in the past six months if air quality had been better.