Clearing the Air

In December 2020 Southwark Coroner's Court found that air pollution "made a material contribution" to the death of Ella Kiss-Debrah. Ella died in February 2013 at the age of nine after over two years of severe asthma attacks and cardiac arrests that led to multiple hospital visits. Rosamund Kissi-Debrah, Ella’s mother, spent seven years after her daughter’s death trying to find the answers as to why her previously healthy child had suddenly become so gravely ill. An initial inquest found no connection to air pollution and at no point was air pollution mentioned as a potential factor in the time that Ella was ill. Eddie Nestor speaks to Rosamund and the key people involved in fighting for a second inquest and ultimately setting this hugely significant legal precedent. We also explore what comes next. How could the law be changed to reduce our exposure to invisible pollutants? What can government at all levels do to make the air we breathe less toxic? Is pressure from the public necessary to make drastic change happen? Producer: Steve Hankey Presenter: Eddie Nestor Executive Producer: Robert Nicholson A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4