Around 24,000 Britons die every year as a result of air pollution, according to research by the Liberal Democrats.
The study, based on official EU reports found that at least 4,400 people in London alone die prematurely every year because of poor
air quality.
Speaking earlier this week, the party's shadow climate and energy change secretary Simon Hughes said that meeting European
air quality targets is not simply an option for the UK, but is a "matter of life and death".
"Air pollution is a silent killer. Every year, thousands of people across Britain are having their lives cut short because our government is dragging its heels on cleaning up the air we breathe," he added.
The Liberal Democrats said it is imperative that the UK complies with
air quality laws in time for the London Olympics.
Green MEP Jean Lambert issued a similar warning earlier this week.
She told the Hackney Gazette that it will create an embarrassing legal situation if the UK fails to get its act together in time for 2012.
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