Every day, children across London breathe in polluted air on their way to and during school. One in four school playgrounds in London has air pollution levels above the legal limit for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). While we know that long-term exposure can affect children’s lung growth, very little is known about what happens after short bursts of pollution exposure — such as during a single PE lesson outside.
The CHERISH study will be the first in the UK to answer this important question. We are working with 10 primary schools and 330 children to find out whether short-term exposure to air pollution in school playgrounds affects lung function and the body’s immune response.
Our findings will help:
- Doctors to better advise families of children with asthma and other breathing conditions.
- Schools to make informed decisions about outdoor play and PE lessons.
- Policymakers to improve public health guidance for schools and communities.
