Hitting clean air targets 'could stop 67,000 child asthma cases a year'

Staying within WHO pollution limits would prevent 11% of new diagnoses, study says

Almost 67,000 new cases of asthma in children across 18 European countries could be prevented every year if levels of tiny particulates polluting the air are cut to recommended levels, research suggests.

The study joins a growing body of research into the impact of air pollution on human health. A landmark study published in April estimated that 4m new asthma cases a year globally among those aged one to 18 were down to levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) in the air.