Diesels are emitting more pollution than they should

New research has concluded that diesel cars are producing 50 per cent more toxic emissions than they should be if complying with pollution laws.

A report by the University of York and the International Council on Clean Transportation has concluded that diesels are emitting far more nitrogen oxide than they should, which could be down to “engine calibration to equipment failure, inadequate maintenance, and tampering by vehicle owners”.

For the report, researchers analysed data from 30 studies of vehicle emissions under real-world driving conditions around the world, according to The Telegraph.

It was found that vehicles emitted 13.2 million tonnes of nitrogen oxide - 4.6 million more tonnes than the 8.6 million which is expected under laboratory test conditions.

Professor Roy Harrison FRS, Professor of Environmental Health, University of Birmingham, said: “This is a rigorous study which highlights the serious consequences which have resulted directly from the irresponsible actions of the motor manufacturers in producing vehicles which meet regulatory requirements under test conditions, but emit far higher pollutant levels during on-road use.

“The study may well underestimate the full consequences for public health as it quantifies only the effects of particulate matter and ozone formed in the atmosphere as a result of excess nitrogen oxides emissions, but not the direct effects of the oxides of nitrogen themselves."