Diesel car pollution is half than previously thought, according to new study

DIESEL cars are the world’s worst polluting vehicles, or is that just a smoke screen.

In a new study, scientists from the University of York examined the concentration of nitrogen dioxide at roadsides across 61 European cities, analysing 130 million hourly measurements.

The study revealed that levels of nitrogen dioxide in Europe are two times smaller than previously thought and the amount of hot air coming out of diesel cars is half than that used in policy predictions for the European Commission.

“The forecasts are likely pessimistic because they overstate the current fraction of emissions that is directly released as NO2,” said author Dr David Carslaw.

While Anthony Frew, Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the Royal Sussex Hospital said: “This is encouraging data for drivers of diesel cars, this news will come as some relief from the recent demonisation of diesel.”