December 16th local time, the British Coroner’s Court ruled that air pollution resulted in the death of 9-year-old African-American girl Ella Kissi-Debra. After three years of repeated severe asthma attacks, Ella died in 2013.
Several British media reported that this is the first case in the UK to be convicted of death from asthma caused by air pollution.
Phillip Barlow, coroner of the case, said that the level of particulate matter in the air in Ella’s community was above World Health Organization standards, and the emissions of nitrogen dioxide exceeded the statutory ceiling.
Ella’s mother has been in court for the past seven years to prove her daughter’s death, and the final decision in this case may put some pressure on the British government to take greater action to avoid more British people dying prematurely due to air pollution.
