Air Pollution's Young Victim: Ella's Story

Ella Roberta Kissi-Debrah was a healthy, active, and happy child who lived in Lewisham, South East London, with her mother, Rosamund Kissi-Debrah. Ella was born in 2004 and died on February 15, 2013, just three weeks after her ninth birthday, from a fatal asthma attack. Ella's mother believes that air pollution was a contributing factor to her daughter's death, and after a long fight, a UK court has made legal history by ruling that air pollution was one of the causes of Ella's death. This ruling has brought attention to the deadly impact of air pollution and the need for legislation and proper implementation to reduce NO2 levels, which are often illegally high in urban areas.

Air pollution was a contributing factor to Ella's death

Air pollution was a contributing factor to Ella Roberta Kissi-Debrah's death. Ella, a healthy and active 9-year-old girl, suffered a fatal asthma attack in February 2013. She had been admitted to the hospital 27 times before her death, with frequent asthma attacks and respiratory issues.

Ella lived in Lewisham, South London, just 25 meters away from the heavily congested South Circular road, a known air pollution hotspot. Professor Stephen Holgate, a world-leading expert in the field of respiratory medicine, examined tissue samples from Ella and data from pollution sensors near her home. He discovered that her hospital admissions coincided with spikes in illegal levels of air pollution and that her final hospital admission occurred during one of the worst air pollution episodes in the area.

Holgate concluded that Ella's exposure to high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM) was a key driver of her asthma. He found that the excessive air pollution in her area, largely emitted by diesel cars, made her asthma more severe and ultimately contributed to her death. This was confirmed by coroner Philip Barlow, who ruled that air pollution had made a "material contribution" to Ella's death, marking a legal first in the UK and potentially the world.

The ruling highlights the deadly impact of air pollution and the need for urgent action and legislation to reduce pollution levels. Ella's mother, Rosamund Kissi-Debrah, has been fighting for justice and raising awareness about the dangers of air pollution, hoping to prevent other children from suffering the same fate as her daughter.

Ella's mother fought for justice

Ella Roberta Kissi-Debrah's mother, Rosamund Kissi-Debrah, fought for years to have air pollution recognised as a contributing factor in her daughter's death. Ella, a healthy and active child, suffered a fatal asthma attack in February 2013, just weeks after her ninth birthday.

Initially, air pollution was not considered a possible factor in Ella's illness. An inquest in 2014 concluded that the cause of death was acute respiratory failure brought on by an asthma attack, but Rosamund Kissi-Debrah suspected that air pollution might have played a role. She lived with her daughter near a busy road in Lewisham, South London, and later discovered that their home was located in an area known for high levels of air pollution.

Rosamund's determination to uncover the truth led her to seek the expertise of Professor Stephen Holgate, one of the world's leading experts in the field of air pollution. Professor Holgate's research revealed a link between Ella's frequent hospital admissions and spikes in illegal levels of air pollution. He found that her final hospital admission occurred during one of the worst air pollution episodes in their area. This evidence supported Rosamund's growing suspicion that air pollution had contributed to her daughter's death.

In her pursuit of justice, Rosamund Kissi-Debrah launched the Ella Roberta Family Foundation and sought legal assistance to challenge government inaction on air pollution. She raised funds through the CrowdJustice platform, aiming to gather support for her fight for cleaner air and to continue her legal battle. Her efforts led to a second inquest, which heard from health, transport, and air quality experts, as well as representatives from Ella's family, government departments, and local authorities.

In December 2020, a UK coroner, Philip Barlow, ruled that air pollution had "made a material contribution" to Ella's death. This landmark ruling marked the first time in the UK, and potentially the world, that air pollution was listed as a cause of death. The coroner's verdict acknowledged the harmful impact of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter, particularly on children with asthma. This ruling sent a clear message to the government and reinforced the urgent need to address the deadly consequences of air pollution.

Air pollution is a public health crisis

Ella lived in Lewisham, South London, just 25 metres from the heavily congested South Circular road. Data from the London Mayor's office shows that over two million people in the city, including 400,000 children, live in areas with illegal levels of air pollution. Professor Stephen Holgate, one of the world's leading experts in the field of air pollution, found that Ella's frequent hospital admissions for asthma coincided with spikes in illegal levels of air pollution near her home. Holgate concluded that exposure to excessive levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was a "key driver" of Ella's asthma, and her final hospital admission occurred during one of the worst air pollution episodes in her area.

The coroner for Ella's neighbourhood, Philip Barlow, ruled that "Ella died of asthma contributed to by exposure to excessive air pollution." He specifically mentioned that Ella had been exposed to levels of two air pollutants, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), which posed a particular health risk to children with asthma. This conclusion was supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), which has stated that air pollution kills around seven million people every year and that even pollution levels considered "safe" can still shorten lifespans.

The ruling in Ella's case confirms the urgent need for legislation and proper implementation to reduce air pollution levels. Diesel cars have been mostly blamed for high levels of NO2, which is linked to transport pollution. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has acknowledged that air pollution is a "public health crisis, especially for our children" and has called for stronger action to tackle this deadly issue. Ella's mother, Rosamund, has also advocated for change, stating, "No more children should die early because of illegal vehicle emissions."

The impact of air pollution on public health is undeniable, and it is essential that governments and policymakers recognize this crisis and take decisive action to protect the health and well-being of their citizens, especially vulnerable groups such as children. Ella's case serves as a tragic reminder of the very real and deadly consequences of air pollution and the importance of addressing this issue before more lives are lost.

Ella's inquest was comprehensive

Ella Kissi-Debrah's inquest was comprehensive, involving a fortnight-long hearing with evidence from health, transport, and air quality experts, as well as Ella's family, three government departments, the Mayor of London, and the borough of Lewisham, where she lived. Ella's mother, Rosamund Kissi-Debrah, had been determined to get justice for her daughter and to understand the real reason for her death. She had previously raised funds for legal representation to ensure the inquest was as comprehensive as possible.

The inquest heard that Ella was a healthy, active, and happy child who enjoyed sports, music, and reading. She had a reading age beyond her years and was described as "extraordinarily talented" by her headteacher. However, Ella suffered from severe asthma, which resulted in frequent hospital admissions, including over 30 emergency admissions in the two years between her first asthma diagnosis and her death.

Professor Stephen Holgate, one of the world's leading experts in the field of air pollution, provided critical evidence linking Ella's asthma attacks to spikes in illegal levels of air pollution near her home. He examined tissue samples, data from pollution sensors near her home, and her medical records. He concluded that exposure to illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was a "key driver" of her asthma and that her final hospital admission occurred during one of the worst air pollution episodes in their area.

The inquest also considered the impact of air pollution on children's health more broadly. Data from the London Mayor's office showed that over two million people in the city, including 400,000 children, lived in areas with illegal levels of air pollution. The inquest recognized the need for legislation and proper implementation to reduce NO2 levels, with diesel cars being identified as a significant source of transport pollution.

The comprehensive nature of Ella's inquest, involving a range of experts and stakeholders, helped to ensure that all relevant factors were considered in understanding the role of air pollution in her death. This contributed to the landmark ruling that air pollution was one of the causes of Ella's death, marking a significant moment in recognizing the deadly impact of air pollution and the need for urgent action.

Ella's legacy

Ella Roberta Kissi-Debrah's untimely death has left a lasting legacy in the fight for clean air and the recognition of the dangers of air pollution. Ella's mother, Rosamund Kissi-Debrah, has been at the forefront of this fight, seeking justice for her daughter and raising awareness about the deadly impact of air pollution.

The fight for justice for Ella gained momentum with the support of Professor Stephen Holgate, one of the world's leading experts in the field of air pollution. Professor Holgate's research provided crucial evidence that Ella's hospital admissions and death were linked to illegal levels of air pollution. This evidence was presented during the second inquest into Ella's death, which resulted in a landmark ruling by the coroner that air pollution made a "material contribution" to Ella's death.

The ruling sent shockwaves across the UK and beyond, as it marked the first time in the country, and potentially the world, that air pollution was officially listed as a cause of death. This legal first set a powerful precedent and brought much-needed attention to the issue of air pollution. It also highlighted the vulnerability of children to the harmful effects of air pollution, with Ella's case serving as a tragic reminder of the urgent need for action.

The impact of Ella's legacy can be seen in the increased recognition of the health risks posed by air pollution and the growing demand for action to address this issue. Ella's story has put a human face to the statistics, illustrating the very real and devastating consequences of air pollution. It has also empowered individuals and communities to stand up and demand change, with the understanding that tackling air pollution is not just about numbers, but about saving lives.

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