British justice recently handed down an unprecedented verdict in the country. The final decision was in favor of a 9-year-old girl who died several years ago of a severe asthma attack. According to this unprecedented verdict in the country, air pollution also contributed to the death of the young girl.
In 2013 at the age of only 9, little Ella Kissi Debrah lost her life following a serious asthma attack . This death followed three years of significant respiratory problems, as explained by the British daily The Guardian December 16, 2020. On that day, the police officer (coroner) in charge of establishing the causes of violent deaths acknowledged that air pollution had contributed to the death of the young girl.>
For the coroner, acute respiratory failure due to severe asthma is not the only cause of death. chronic exposure at high pollution levels also played a role. However, justice had not made this conclusion in 2014 during the first judgment. From now on, the little girl's death certificate will include a new mention , after seven years of struggle.
The deceased lived in Lewisham, South East London near South Circular Road, a busy thoroughfare . During his inquest, the coroner noted the levels of air pollution near the family's home. However, these exceeded the limits set by the European Union on the basis of the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). We should also mention the fact that these findings were possible thanks to data on the three years preceding the death .
This unreleased UK verdict represents a real victory, especially for Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, the mother of little Ella. The person concerned has since created a foundation with the mission of improving the lives of children suffering from asthma. Today, she defends health and air quality at the WHO.
The organization estimates about 4.2 million a year the number of deaths due to air pollution. In addition, 91% of the world's population experiences pollution levels that exceed guidelines. Furthermore, The Guardian recalls that between 28,000 and 36,000 people die in the United Kingdom. In France according to an article published by Le Monde in 2019, this number would approach 50,000 per year.
