Environmentalists have long been explaining the deadly impact that air pollution can have on the human population, but no one seemed to take them seriously enough. Now with a child’s death in the United Kingdom being linked to high and illegal levels of air pollution, things may finally change.

The young girl in question was Ella Kissi-Debrah. The nine year old died in 2013 after three years of seizures and almost thirty visits to the hospital which were triggered by asthma attacks. Ella lives in the South Circular Road area about 25m from London. An area known for it’s toxic and high levels of pollution.

Professor Stephen Holgate has found a striking association with the times Ella was admitted to the hospital after an attack and the recorded spikes in the nitrogen dioxide and PM10s near her home. Professor Holgate is with the University Hospital of  Southhapmton and his report provides evidence that illegal levels of air pollution can literally kill children.

Ella’s case has provided hard hitting facts to  link thousands of deaths in the United Kingdom with air pollution. As the professor said, no one wants to see young children die. So perhaps now may be a good time to ensure that air pollution becomes a priority with scientific research worldwide.