Urban populations in south-east at greatest risk from air pollution

More than one in 19 deaths in UK's largest towns and cities linked to exposure to toxic air

More than one in 19 deaths in Britain's largest towns and cities are linked to air pollution - with people living in urban areas in south-east England more likely to die from exposure to toxic air, according to a new study.

London, Slough, Chatham, Luton and Portsmouth had the highest proportion of deaths attributable to pollution the study found, with around one in 16 in 2017 caused by high levels of harmful particulates in the atmosphere.