Pollution in the capital is so bad, Oxford Street hit its annual nitrogen dioxide emissions limit this year by 4 January. Campaigners are calling on the mayor to do more to combat the problem.
London is famous for its smog – but new figures shed light on just how bad air quality is in the capital.
According to figures from the Clean Air in London campaign group, Oxford Street breached EU annual limits on air pollution on 4 January.
Getty Images / Mike Hewitt
EU law states that the amount of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) in the air can't exceed 200 micrograms per cubic metre more than 18 times in a year.
Oxford Street failed that test a day earlier than last year, with its 19th NO₂ breach of 2015 so far.
Last year Oxford Street breached this limit on 1,361 occasions, according to King's College, London.
Scientists at King's have argued that "the annual mean NO₂ concentration at Oxford Street is easily the highest in Europe."
NO₂, spewed out by cars, taxis and buses, irritates the lungs can cause breathing problems, particularly for people with asthma.
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