Sir – The Lancet Oncology (July 10) reported that particulate matter (PM) air pollution contributes to lung cancer.

They identified a statistically significant association between levels of particulates (PM10) in excess of 10µg/m3 and lung cancer. The background level of particulates (PM10) in Oxford, recorded at St Ebbe’s Primary School (a no-through-road) is 17µg/m3. It has been this level for five years.

Oxford city’s Air Quality Action Plan is out for consultation and I urge all residents of Oxford to respond. They set a target for a 50 per cent reduction in particulates in seven years’ time.

That’s for the next generation of schoolchildren. In my letter (July 11) I reminded residents of the ill health impact of nitrogen dioxide on children and old people with asthma and heart disease.

The council’s target is currently 40µg/m3. The new Air Quality Action Plan proposes an easier target of 45µg/m3 returning back to 40µg/m3 in 12 years’ time. The city council have responsibility for air quality and the county council for traffic — another absurdity of two-tier local government. Oxford residents have already been exposed over the long-term to dangerous air pollution, this is not a situation that should be allowed to continue for another year, let alone seven to 12 years.

The quickest way to reduce the levels of pollutants is to significantly reduce the traffic, particularly diesel traffic, allowed to enter Oxford.

Failing any immediate remedial action from our councils, may I suggest that the very expensive health costs associated with treating early death and disease resulting from long-term exposure to vehicle emissions are deducted from the councils’ budgets and transferred to the hospitals’ budgets because we’re all going to need them.

Alice Brander, Oxford