Short-term air pollution and exercise effects on children's lungs
Official title: Children's Health, Respiratory Inflammation and Short-term Air Pollution
Run by Queen Mary University of London · NCT07431021 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test if outdoor exercise on higher-pollution days affects primary-school children's lungs more than resting outdoors.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 7 Years to 11 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 330 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Queen Mary University of London Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (London) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 20, 2025 |
| Main results expected | July 1, 2027 |
| Study ends | July 1, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | June 15, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07431021 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal participants are primary-school children in years 3–6 at the recruited Central and East London schools who can give assent, whose parents provide consent, and who can safely take part in PE.
✕Probably not a fit
Children who cannot safely participate in PE, who cannot provide assent or parental consent, or who do not attend the participating schools are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The study will recruit 330 children from 10 primary schools categorized as higher- or lower-pollution sites in Central and East London. Each child will attend two school visits where researchers will record height and weight, perform breathing tests, and collect nasal (snot) samples. On one visit the child will take part in a typical outdoor PE lesson and on the other a sedentary science lesson in random order while wearing activity monitors and with playground air pollution measured. The team will compare pre- and post-session changes in lung function and nasal markers between children from higher- and lower-pollution schools.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could help schools, parents, and policymakers decide whether to limit outdoor physical activity on high-pollution days to protect children's lung health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown short-term air pollution can worsen lung function in children, but few real-world school-based comparisons of exercise versus rest have been conducted.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Attending schools in Central and East London that have been recruited to the study Exclusion Criteria: * Not able to engage with PE lessons on safety grounds, reported by their parents. * Children with learning or physical disabilities sufficient for them to be unable to give informed assent to the study, or to carry out study procedures
Where it's running
-
Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry
London, United Kingdom Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: James Scales, PhD — Queen Mary University London
- Study coordinator: James Scales, PhD
- Email: j.scales@qmul.ac.uk
- Phone: +447533897264
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.