When Maksim Kovaliova was six, he suffered his first asthma attack. It seemed to 'come out of nowhere' and left him 'scared and weak', recalls his mum Julia, who is raising all three of her children in Manchester city centre.
Following repeated episodes and a trip to hospital, it’s suspected Maksim, now, 11, likely has pollution-induced asthma - thought in part to be a result of living near to the junction of Portland Street and Great Ancoats, where traffic is near-constant. READ MORE: GPs share disturbing ways long Covid is leaving a lasting scar - 'especially on young women' Manchester city centre has been Maksim’s home since birth and he is among a quarter of a million babies in the UK born breathing toxic air every year.
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