One in seven Wandsworth schools, nurseries and after school clubs are exposed to illegal and damaging levels of air pollution, according to a joint investigation by the Guardian and Greenpeace.
According to the research, "112 out of 796 nurseries, schools, further education centres and after school clubs in Wandsworth are within 150 metres of a road where the level of nitrogen dioxide from diesel traffic exceeds the legal limit of 40.0µg/m3".
This comes after a high court ruling found the Government’s plans to tackle air pollution were so bad they were deemed unlawful. Ministers must produce new draft plans by April 24.
Anna Jones, clean air campaigner at Greenpeace, said: "Most people don’t realise that all across the country, toddlers are being exposed to invisible air pollution caused by diesel vehicles.
"At such a young age, children are extremely vulnerable to its effects, and it can cause long-lasting health impacts and reduced lung function.
"We were told diesel cars were the cleaner choice, but car makers lied about how much pollution they emit.
"That deception has left our kids exposed to toxic air pollution that’s causing widespread chronic health problems."
Many children in Wandsworth are being exposed to illegal limits, for example Baby Room Balham is within 150 metres of a road emitting 47.67µg/m3, Windmill Nursery 51.94µg/m3, Newton Preparatory school 48.26µg/m3, Harris Academy 48.26µg/m3 and Myfuture After School Club 52.09µg/m3.
To check your child’s school go here.
Councillor for Roehampton and Putney Heath and Wandworth Labour’s spokesperson for education Jeremy Ambache said: "It has been shown by medical research that diesel pollution has serious adverse consequences for children’s development and health.
"So it is good that Sadiq Khan, the London Mayor, is giving high priority to reducing pollution in the Wandsworth’s pollution 'hot spots', like in Putney High Street and on the South Circular road."
The London Mayor is introducing a variety of measures to tackle the problem, such as introducing levies, doubling funding and lobbying the Government to start a national diesel scrappage fund.
Mr Khan announced in March that Putney would be the first Low Emission Bus Zone in a bid to "tackle toxic air". However, the older, more polluting buses were merely switched with buses on other routes nearby.
Wandsworth Council’s environment spokesperson Councillor Jonathan Cook said: "Tackling London’s serious air quality problem is a major challenge and we are working hard to play our part in tackling this issue.
"What doesn’t help however is when the Mayor pledges to remove dirty old buses from our streets but instead of withdrawing them re-routes them to run past many more schools and nurseries as we have just seen on the G1 route through Tooting, Clapham Junction and Battersea."
The Mayor said: "The air in London is lethal and I will not stand by and do nothing.
"I am introducing a new T-Charge this October and subject to consultation, I want to introduce the Ultra Low Emission Zone in central London in April 2019.
"This alone will mean the capital has the toughest emission standard of any world city.
"But the scale of our air quality challenge is so big that I need to go further.
"I want to expand the ULEZ from 2020 for heavy vehicles such as buses, coaches and lorries so that all of London will benefit from cleaner air.
"Then from 2021, I want to expand it up to the North and South Circular roads for light vehicles, including cars and vans. These measures will help improve the air that millions of Londoners breathe.
"I want to announce my intention to consult on these proposals in good time so that business and those affected by new charges will have time to make changes they need to adapt to our low emission requirements.
"Now I urge the Government to step up and match my ambition to transform the appalling air we breathe.
"Ministers need to deliver a national vehicle scrappage fund, reform fiscal incentives like vehicle excise duty and pass a powerful new Clean Air Act to Act end the toxic smog in London once and for all."
A government spokesperson said: "We are firmly committed to improving the UK’s air quality and cutting harmful emissions.
"That's why we have committed more than £2bn since 2011 to increase the uptake of ultra-low emissions vehicles, support greener transport schemes and set out how we will improve air quality through a new programme of Clean Air Zones.
"In addition, in the Autumn Statement, we announced a further £290m to support electric vehicles, low emission buses and taxis, and alternative fuels.
"We will update our air quality plans shortly to further improve the nation’s air quality."
Does your child go to a school exposed to illegal levels of air pollution? Email: grainne.cuffe@london.newsquest.co.uk
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