Tough air pollution targets needed to cut health inequalities, say MPs

Cross-party committee says deprived groups contribute least but suffer most from dirty air

The government must set tough new air pollution targets to reduce the stark health inequalities suffered by disadvantaged communities, a cross-party committee of MPs has said.

Dirty air causes up to 64,000 early deaths a year in the UK, according to their report, and disproportionately harms those living in deprived areas and those from minority ethnic communities. The fact that these groups contribute the least to air pollution increases the moral case for action", said the MPs.