Health effects of diesel 'cost European taxpayers billions'

Traffic emissions responsible for at least a70bn damage every year, report says

Air pollution from roads causes at least a70bn (62bn) in health damage every year in the European Union, according to a new report, with diesel fumes responsible for three-quarters of the harm.

The research, commissioned by the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), found the vast majority of the costs were borne by taxpayers through government-funded health services. But these costs could be reduced by 80% by 2030 if ambitious action were taken, the report concluded.