The findings of a collaborative study between King’s College London, the Centre for Paediatrics at Barts and the London School of Medicine has been highlighted in a major BBC investigation into particulates in the UK.

The investigation by the BBC’s environment correspondent David Shukman highlighted preliminary findings from the EXHALE project, which looked at the effects of particulates and pollution on the lung function of 8 and 9 year olds in 10 schools in east London.

Professor Jonathan Grigg from Bart’s told the BBC:"Our findings in the East End of London are that children living here have slightly lower lung function than what we'd expect from the national average".

"Now, if that's due to air pollution, as we suspect, they're going to be at increased risk from a range of respiratory disorders such as asthma and infection, and may be at risk in adulthood."

The investigation also includes an interview with environment minister Hillary Ben who visited the team at ERG recently and discussed the problems faced by the UK and other EU member states in meeting particulate emission targets."We've been working with other countries in Europe to improve the standards to get these PM₁₀ particles down because we know it has an effect on our health"

"But we need to do more and principally that will be about cars and lorries and buses," he said.

The full report can be found on the BBC’s site here:

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Item date 10/06/2009