Coronavirus UK lockdown causes big drop in air pollution

Air quality in big cities is likely to improve even more in coming weeks, say scientists

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The nationwide shutdown caused by the coronavirus outbreak has led to big drops in air pollution across the UK's major cities, new data analysis shows.

Levels of toxic pollutants were likely to fall even further, scientists said, as traffic remained off the roads but prevailing westerly winds from the Atlantic returned. Current easterly winds are bringing additional pollution from continental Europe to Britain.