GLASGOW is the most polluted city in the UK – and the fifth worst in Europe – for key traffic-related emissions, according to a new report.

It was the only city in Britain, except Leicester, shown to be failing European standards on nitrogen dioxide, which is caused by exhaust fumes and industrial pollution.

The report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) ranked Glasgow at No5 for the toxic gas out of nearly 400 cities assessed.

It is one of only ten places that breached the NO2 limit in 2010, the year it was supposed to be met.

The deadly dioxide exacerbates lung disease and related respiratory problems, and also reacts in the atmosphere to produce ground-level ozone, a major component of smog.

The EEA warned that poor air-quality levels were wiping two years off people’s lives in the most polluted cities.

It also emerged that the breach in Glasgow could result in a multi-million-pound fine for the UK, because government officials did not apply to the European Commission for an extension to meet the 2010 target.

via No clean city: Glasgow worst in UK for deadly traffic emissions – Environment – Scotsman.com.