England: Landmark inquest rules nine-year-old girl was victim of air pollution

South London coroner Philip Barlow said the death of Ella Kissi-Debrah in February 2013 was caused by acute respiratory failure, severe asthma and air pollution exposure, The Guardian reports.

The original 2014 inquest ruling, which said she died of acute respiratory failure caused by severe asthma, was quashed after an air pollution expert said her death could be linked to unlawful levels of air pollution from the South Circular road in south London.

Professor Sir Stephen Holgate had told the attorney general that air pollution monitors near the girl’s home, 25 miles from the South Circular road, suggested a link between the type and severity of her asthma and the air quality.

Following the inquest, in which Sir Stephen gave evidence, the coroner said: “The whole of Ella’s life was lived in close proximity to highly polluting roads. I have no difficulty in concluding that her personal exposure to nitrogen dioxide and PM was very high.”