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UK receives ‘final warning’ over air pollution

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The UK could end up paying as much as £300m in fines.

The government received a second and “final” warning from the commission after the levels of dangerous airborne particles, or PM10s, in London and Gibraltar exceeded EU limits.

The commission says high levels of PM10 may lead to serious health problems.

“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,” said the EU’s environment commissioner Janez Potocnik.

The UK government said the warning was “a surprise.”

“It’s disappointing that the commission has felt it necessary to issue a second and final written warning,” said a spokesperson for the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Full story: BBC News – UK receives ‘final warning’ over air pollution