London is the 18th most polluted city in the world, according to study

London has been listed as the 18th most polluted city in the world, according to a new study.

The research carried out by Utility Bidder has ranked the most and least polluted cities based on factors such as air quality index score, light pollution, traffic index score and carbon footprint per capita.

To help tackle air pollution in the capital the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan is aiming to achieve net zero carbon emissions in the capital by 2030.

Part of these plans include the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) as well as the Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs).

The mayor announced plans in March to expand the ULEZ to cover all of Greater London by the end of 2023.

Responding to the study, Mayor Khan said: ‘London has been ranked the 18th most polluted city in the world based on air quality, light pollution & traffic congestion.

“That’s nothing to be proud of, and we need to act.

‘We’ve had amazing success in reducing the harmful impacts of air pollution in inner London.

“However, thousands of people in outer London continue to breathe toxic air. Urgent action is still required to protect families. We need to go further and much faster.”

Air pollution in the UK has been estimated to contribute to the equivalent of 40,000 early deaths every year.

Toxic air can increase the risk of asthma attacks and strokes, aggravate breathing conditions and increase the risk of these leading to hospitalisation or worse.

Research has recently emerged on exactly how air pollution can cause lung cancer.

In 2020, nine-year-old Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah from Lewisham, who died back in 2013, became the first person in the UK to have air pollution listed as a cause of death.

World’s most polluted cities

1. Los Angeles, United States

2. Doha, Qatar

3. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

4. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

5. Tel Aviv, Israel

6. Singapore, Singapore

7. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

8. New York, United States

8.  Orlando, United States

10. Istanbul, Turkey

10.  Seoul, South Korea

12.  Athens, Greece

14.  Hong Kong, Hong Kong

16.  Buenos Aires, Argentina

17.  Shanghai, China

18.  London, United Kingdom

19.  Johannesburg, South Africa

20.  Paris, France

1. Munich, Germany

2. Frankfurt, Germany

3. Copenhagen, Denmark

4. Stockholm, Sweden

5. Zurich, Switzerland