More than 16,000 Brits are dying each year from cancer and strokes caused by air pollution, health bosses warn
It is estimated almost 5,000 died from lung cancer and 3,700 died from strokes linked to outdoor air pollution in 2012
AIR pollution is killing more than 16,000 Brits a year, global health leaders have warned.
New figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO) show 16,355 deaths in the UK as a result of air pollutants from vehicles, industries and household fuel.
The shocking new figures include deaths from conditions such as lung cancer and stroke.
In Britain it is estimated that more than 7,300 people died from ischaemic heart disease linked to outdoor air pollution during 2012.
In the same year almost 5,000 died from lung cancer and 3,700 died from strokes.
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More than 400 died from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, while acute lower respiratory disease accounted for 12 deaths.
British Lung Foundation chief executive Dr Penny Woods said: "These figures show a depressing picture of deaths due to air pollution exposure, impacting on general respiratory health.
"The fact that so many deaths a year are recorded in the EU, shows we need urgent action to improve pollution levels.
"That is why the British Lung Foundation believes we must all play a part in reducing harmful pollution, working with other organisations who also want action to improve air quality now. We can do this by ensuring parliament brings in a new Clean Air Act, and creating carefully designed clean air zones in air pollution hot spots across the UK."
Vehicles, industry and households emit complex mixtures of air pollutants. Of these, fine particulate matter has the greatest effect on human health.
Most fine particulate matter comes from fuel combustion, from vehicles, power plants, industry, households or biomass burning.
Mark Watts, executive director for the C40 group of cities championing climate action, added: "We need radical and rapid action to tackle the twin issues of air pollution, which is killing urban citizens, and climate change, which threatens millions of lives today and in the future.”
The WHO says that 92 per cent of the world's population live in places where air quality levels exceed its recommended limits.
Across the world, one out of every nine deaths was the result of air pollution-related conditions in 2012, the WHO report states.
Of these deaths, about three million were attributable solely to ambient (outdoor) air pollution and the organisation has created a new map to show the worst-affected places.
Dr Flavia Bustreo, assistant director general at WHO said: "The new WHO model shows countries where the air pollution danger spots are, and provides a baseline for monitoring progress in combating it.
"Air pollution continues to take a toll on the health of the most vulnerable populations - women, children and the older adults.
"For people to be healthy, they must breathe clean air from their first breath to their last."
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