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Doctors call for ban on diesel engines in London | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A new campaign led by medical professionals is calling for all diesel cars to be banned from London. | A new campaign led by medical professionals is calling for all diesel cars to be banned from London. |
Doctors Against Diesel claim 9,400 Londoners a year die prematurely from breathing in toxic fumes from diesel engines. | Doctors Against Diesel claim 9,400 Londoners a year die prematurely from breathing in toxic fumes from diesel engines. |
Paris, Madrid, Mexico City and Athens have committed to a ban on diesel vehicles by 2025. | Paris, Madrid, Mexico City and Athens have committed to a ban on diesel vehicles by 2025. |
Opponents of the campaign have called the proposals "impractical" and warned a blanket ban could "backfire". | |
Doctors Against Diesel - comprising doctors, nurses and health professionals - are calling for Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, to commit to phasing out diesel vehicles from London. | Doctors Against Diesel - comprising doctors, nurses and health professionals - are calling for Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, to commit to phasing out diesel vehicles from London. |
Mr Khan has already said he wants to get rid of diesel buses by 2018. | Mr Khan has already said he wants to get rid of diesel buses by 2018. |
According to the campaign, nearly 40% of all Nitrogen Oxides emissions and PM10 pollution, which is linked to decreased lung function, within London comes from diesel vehicles. | According to the campaign, nearly 40% of all Nitrogen Oxides emissions and PM10 pollution, which is linked to decreased lung function, within London comes from diesel vehicles. |
The latest diesel cars are the "cleanest in history" according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). | |
Figures released by SMMT show emissions of nitrogen oxides have reduced by 84% since 2000, while new "high tech" filters capture 99% of all soot particles and exhaust after-treatments form diesel engines. | |
'Serious about pollution' | 'Serious about pollution' |
Professor Jonathan Grigg from Doctors Against Diesel told the BBC: "Deaths from paediatric asthma are disproportionately much higher in London than the rest of Europe. | Professor Jonathan Grigg from Doctors Against Diesel told the BBC: "Deaths from paediatric asthma are disproportionately much higher in London than the rest of Europe. |
"Air pollution levels in London exceed legal limits and affect people's health at every stage of life. | "Air pollution levels in London exceed legal limits and affect people's health at every stage of life. |
"If we want to be serious about air pollution we need to be serious about diesel." | "If we want to be serious about air pollution we need to be serious about diesel." |
But Edmund King, president of the AA, called the proposal "fairly impractical". | But Edmund King, president of the AA, called the proposal "fairly impractical". |
He said: "We all want to clean up air quality but you've got to give time, you've got to give incentives. | He said: "We all want to clean up air quality but you've got to give time, you've got to give incentives. |
"Yes get rid of the worst offenders but I think a blanket ban would just backfire." | "Yes get rid of the worst offenders but I think a blanket ban would just backfire." |
Transport for London is currently consulting on proposals to improve air quality in the capital. | Transport for London is currently consulting on proposals to improve air quality in the capital. |