The air Londoners breathe is not good enough and according to the EU is a danger to people´s health.

The European Commission is pursuing legal action against the UK for failing to comply with EU air quality standards for dangerous airborne particles known as PM10. These particles emitted mainly by industry, traffic and domestic heating, may have negative effects on health leading to asthma, cardiovascular problems, lung cancer and premature death. A second and final written warning has been sent to the UK for still exceeding the limit values for PM10 in a number of zones.

Environment Commissioner Janez Poto?nik said: "Air pollution is bad for our health. It reduces human life expectancy by more than eight months on average and by more than two years in the most polluted cities and regions. Member States must comply with EU air quality standards quickly and reduce air pollutant emissions."

It is not the first time the EU has targeted the UK for pollution issues. In2006, the European Commission pursued legal action against the United Kingdom over a breach of EU rules for the collection and treatment of urban waste water. the dispute was over concerns that there were insufficient collection and treatment facilities for four urban centres (London, Torbay, Whitburn and Kilbarchan). This results in untreated urban waste water being discharged directly into rivers or sea, causing pollution of the environment and health hazards.

Why is the EU involved with London Air quality?

In June 2008, a new EU Air Quality Directive came into force.  The Directive allows Member States to request, under certain conditions and for specific parts of the country, limited extra time to meet the PM10 standards which have been in force since 2005

This time round, the Commission considered that UK had not shown that compliance with the daily PM10 limit value would be achieved by the time the exemption required expired in 2011.

Ken Livingston tweeted yesterday "Boris Johnson’s inaction on pollution is no laughing matter".  He added " Britain has been given a second and final warning by Europe to clean up London’s air or face legal action and fines. Ken Livingstone, running to be Labour’s candidate for Mayor of London, said today:”Boris Johnson’s refusal to take action to tackle pollution in London is no laughing matter. We need a Mayor who will take action to cut pollution in the capital."

A spokesman for Boris Johnson added that "The Mayor is working hard to improve the capital's air through his draft Air Quality Strategy ´Clearing the air´".

Let´s see if "Clearing the air" will actually clear the air between teh EU Commission and Boris.

Image credit: http://www.sxc.hu/profile/Aidas85