Oxford City Council has strongly welcomed tougher WHO guidelines on air quality levels and has written to the Government to recommend they adopt them urgently.

The World Health Organisation is warning that exceeding the new recommended levels of air pollution is associated with significant risks to health.

They recommend lowering overall target levels across the six key air pollutants; introducing interim targets that can be used by authorities to develop pollution reduction policies that are achievable within realistic time frames; reducing the annual level of NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) per year; and reducing the level of particulate matter per year.

However, the WHO emphasises that, despite this update, the new limits should not be considered safe as there is no level at which pollutants stop causing damage.

WHO estimates that around 7 million deaths each year are linked with air pollution – which is now thought to be comparable to other major health risks such as unhealthy diet and tobacco smoking.

Air pollution contributes to an increased chance of developing lung cancer and heart disease and causes asthma, coughs and bronchitis.

A January 2020 study from Centre for Cities found out that at least one in 17 deaths in Oxford is related to air pollution.

While not legally binding, the guidelines are often used as reference tools by policymakers, including councils across the world.

Last summer, Oxford City Council became the first UK local authority to set out its own voluntary citywide air pollution reduction target within its Air Quality Action Plan.

Its target for nitrogen dioxide goes further than the legal aligns with the WHO’s updated target.

The introduction of Britain’s first Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) pilot in the city in February 2022 where polluting vehicles will be charged is intended as a means to explore the implementation of a ZEZ across more of the city centre.

Councillor Tom Hayes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Green Transport and Zero Carbon Oxford, said: "Having launched the most ambitious air quality targets in the country last year, we strongly welcome these new guidelines from the World Health Organisation.

"The latest science is telling us that there is no safe level of air pollution. The new guidelines mean that current UK air quality legislation does not adequately protect public health. We have written to the Government to urge immediate adoption of the guidelines.

"Every day of delay is another day of putting the health of our citizens at risk and going against the clear advice of the latest science. Nobody can afford delay."