London breaches EU limits for air pollution

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) – London has followed several other major European capitals by breaking air pollution records -- only five days into 2017 -- new data claimed on Friday.

Some parts of the U.K. capital have already broken annual records, according to data from King’s College’s London Air Quality Network.

Measurements recorded at Brixton Road in south London’s Lambeth area showed pollution levels surpassed hourly limits for nitrogen dioxide concentrations with readings in excess of the EU limits.

Nitrogen dioxide is an air pollutant gas produced by diesel engines in cars, lorries and other vehicles.

Madrid and Paris introduced traffic restrictions in December to cut down on pollution.

British campaigners have urged the U.K. government to ban diesel use as they say air pollution from traffic has become a serious problem.

Air pollution causes around 40,000 premature deaths in the U.K. every year, according to Friends of Earth -- an environmentalist group.

However, the Mayor of London’s office says it is working hard to improve the city’s environment through an air quality strategy.