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Dangerous levels of particulate matter (PM2.5 or PM10) and chemicals (such as NO2 ) in the air are contributing to tens of thousands of early deaths every year in UK cities. Yet the Committee found that Ministers appear to be actively trying to dilute safety standards to avoid EU fines. 30, 000 deaths in the UK were linked to air pollution in 2008 - with 4, 000 in London alone. But business plans produced by the Department for Transport and Defra do not even mention air quality - despite a commitment in the Coalition agreement to work towards full compliance with EU air quality standards. The Government will be able to pass EU fines for air pollution breaches to local authorities, subject to new procedures in the Localism Bill. However, this report raises a number of concerns about the ability of councils to tackle this problem without coordination and assistance from central Government and points out that the causes of poor air quality are often beyond an individual authority's control. The committee is calling on the Government to establish a national framework of low emissions zones to help local authorities reduce traffic pollution. It is also urging Ministers to launch a public awareness campaign to drive air quality up the political agenda. Under European Union air quality laws the daily pollution levels of PM10 must not be above the legal limit on more than 35 days in a year. By the 21 April 2011 London had already exceeded this year's target, according to the Campaign for Clean Air in London
More books by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Environmental Audit Committee
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Air Quality: a Follow-up Report, Ninth Report of Session 2010-12, Vol. 1: Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence
Book reviews » Air Quality: a Follow-up Report, Ninth Report of Session 2010-12, Vol. 1: Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence (House of Commons Papers)
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