London air pollution 'worst in Europe'

Britain faces court cases and unlimited fines after dangerous levels of minute particles breach EU levels

25 June 2010


London has been found to be one of the most polluted places in Europe.

The City of London has been found to be one of the most polluted places in Europe after monitoring equipment recorded dangerous levels of minute particles for the 36th time this year. Under EU rules, Britain is allowed no more than 35 "bad air" days in the whole year, and now faces court cases and unlimited fines by Europe.

The breaching of the EU levels after just six months will embarrass the government, which was sent a final warning only three weeks ago from the European commission to improve air quality. Many other places in central London are close to the limit and can be expected to break the law within weeks.

The government has applied to Europe for a time extension until 2011 to comply with daily particulate pollution from traffic, but is not certain to be granted it because it has been flouting EU air quality laws since 2005 and is perceived by the environment commissioner Janez Poto?nik to have done little to address the problem.

"Air pollution is bad for our health. It reduces human life expectancy by more than eight months on average and by more than two years in the most polluted cities and regions," he said.

Full report: The Guardian

 

London, the dirty man of Europe


A view across the city of London obscured by summer smog, 1998.

The UK capital is failing spectacularly on air quality. The cost will run into thousands of premature deaths and millions in fines...

 

I feel their pain. My city is among the top 10 worst in the nation.

 

you mofos is straight trippin, drivin 2 blocks because you don't want to get your new Nike's dicked.

 

:smt081 I'll be damned if I drive 4 blocks to get to McDonalds.

 

LA has some of the worst smog in the World.

It doesn't always look like that, only on bad days.