Emergency hospital admissions fell after introduction of London’s T-charge and Ulez, study suggests

Imperial College scientists analysed health records before and after introduction of air pollution reduction zones Low emission and clean air zones attract controversy whenever they are proposed, but there is growing evidence that they work in improving air quality. The Bradford zone was followed by a reduction of about 25% in GP visits for heart and breathing problems and survey data shows that the central London zone was followed by a reduction in the likelihood of a person taking sick leave. Now analysis of health records has found emergency admissions to hospital reduced after the introduction of the T-charge and ultra-low emissions zone (Ulez) in central London. Both schemes were designed to reduce air pollution inhaled by Londoners. Starting in 2017, the T-charge was an additional congestion charge for older, more polluting vehicles. During T-charge, many of the vehicles that drove in central London were upgraded in preparation for the introduction of the more comprehensive central London Ulez in 2019. Dr Rosemary Chamberlain, who undertook the research at Imperial College London, said: “Given what we know about the link between air pollution and health, we wanted to unders