Car fumes blamed for early death

According to a report by the Environmental Audit Committee failure to reduce pollution had put an “enormous” cost on the NHS and could cost millions in EU fines – with health costs of pollution estimated at between £8.5bn and £20.2bn each year.

It said the UK should be “ashamed” of its poor air quality, which was contributing to conditions such as asthma, heart disease and cancer.

Pollutants from transport and power stations have been blamed for contributing to early deaths, it is estimated to shorten lives by an average of eight months – with vulnerable residents such as those with asthma dying up to nine years early.

The committee said major changes were needed on policies on transport, which accounts for up to 70% of pollution in towns and cities.

It called for measures such as national standards for low emission zones, like the one covering London, to make it easier and cheaper for local authorities to implement.

EAC chairman Tim Yeo said: “Air pollution probably causes more deaths than passive smoking, traffic accidents or obesity, yet it receives very little attention from government or the media.

“In the worst affected areas this invisible killer could be taking years off the lives of people most at risk, such as those with asthma.”

The MPs said although climate change policies such as encouraging people to use public transport had helped, other policies, such as the use of more fuel-efficient diesel vehicles, were exacerbating air pollution by increasing production of particulates.

Liberal democrat shadow energy and climate change secretary Simon Hughes said: “The government has scorned its legal obligations and instead gone full steam ahead with policies like Heathrow expansion that will lead to more illness and premature deaths.

“It is time the ministers cleaned up their act.”

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it took improving air quality very seriously and that it had made significant achievements such as reducing sulphur dioxide emissions by 86% since 1990.

The spokesperson added it was working across government to reduce emissions from transport and electricity generation.

By Deepika Dudakia