LONDON (AP) — A woman who believes London’s air pollution contributed to her 9-year-old daughter’s death has won a court battle for a new inquest.
Ella Kissi-Debrah, who died after an asthma attack is thought to be the first person in the world to have air pollution listed as a cause of death in a landmark coroner's ruling.
Three High Court judges said Thursday that “the discovery of new evidence makes it necessary in the interests of justice that a fresh inquest be held” into the death of Ella.
Ella lived 25 meters (yards) from one of London’s busiest roads. She died in February 2013 following three years of seizures and 27 hospital visits for asthma attacks.
"Ella died of asthma contributed to by exposure to excessive air pollution," Philip Barlow, the coroner for Ella's south London neighborhood, said on Wednesday. He said that during Ella's life particulate matter levels in her neighborhood were above WHO guidelines and nitrogen dioxide emissions exceeded legal limits.
Her mother, Rosamund Kissi-Debrah, said she looked forward “to finally getting the truth.”
She said that “if it is proved that pollution killed Ella then the government will be forced to sit up and take notice that this hidden but deadly killer is cutting short our children’s lives.”
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