Cities are hotspots for illness and disease linked to air pollution

A view of the Eiffel tower in Paris, in the fog. If air pollution levels in Europe were reduced to the lowest recorded in last week's study, nearly 125,000 deaths could be avoided annually, it said. — AFP

Limiting air pollution to levels recommended by the World Health Organization could prevent more than 50,000 deaths in Europe annually, according to research published last Wednesday that called for urgent action.

The WHO estimates that air pollution kills more than seven million people each year and is one of the leading causes of sickness and absenteeism globally.

Cities, with their crowded streets and high energy use, are hotspots for illness and disease linked to air pollution.