ABSTRACT
Concern over the quality of air we breathe, particularly in urban areas, and its effect on human health, has been increasing. A recent study confirms that there are ‘serious grounds for concern about London’s air quality’, with numerous transgressions of European guidelines, and a series of high pollution episodes throughout the year (South East Institute of Public Health, 1995). Ambient concentrations of pollutants increased at most London monitoring sites between 1993 and 1994. The government has placed great faith in catalytic converters, which have been fitted to all new cars from 1993, to reduce urban air pollution. To date, at least in London, the evidence suggests that this measure alone will not be sufficient to reduce air pollution levels.
