Unsafe levels of nitrogen dioxide have been recorded at 16 of the 23 airports in England.

Heathrow, Gatwick, Newcastle and Birmingham have breached the European Union safety limit of 40 micrograms of NO2 per cubic metre of air by up to 75%.

London City airport and several others have exceeded the safety limit by up to 50%.

The statistics were released by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
csp.org.uk/

A report called Emissions impossible, commissioned by Project Heathrow Watch and published by the Aviation Environment Federation questions the predictions showing that air pollution at Heathrow could be successfully mitigated once the airport has been expanded.
www.aef.org.uk/news/detail.php?art_id=215

Friends of the Earth director Tony Juniper said: "Green taxes have fallen under Labour, despite promises to increase them when they came to power.

"At the same time UK carbon dioxide emissions have risen. The Government is failing to reduce UK carbon dioxide emissions.

"A new law is desperately needed to make the Government legally responsible for cutting emissions by 3% each year, with an annual climate budget to ensure that we are kept on track. The Government must stop dithering and take urgent action now."

UK taxpayers are effectively giving airlines a £9billion annual subsidy, according to Friends of the Earth.

Earlier AirportWatch published "The Two faces of BAA" which compares the airport operator's corporate image with the environmental and social effects of expansion plans at seven UK airports, and highlights the company's close links with the Government.

The campaign group accuses BAA of "cynically using the language of ecology, sustainability and community concern" to promote airport expansion plans.

A 25-page A4 report can be downloaded at
www.aef.org.uk/downloads/2facesBAA.pdf

Information from John Davison