Pollution indirectly kills 3,400 yearly

Long-term exposure to chronic air pollution is indirectly killing the equivalent of one person here every three hours, and costing the economy a massive €6.3bn a year.

Heritage group An Taisce made the shocking claim yesterday in an attempt to underline the need for urgent action on the issue in this country.

According to World Health Organisation figures obtained by the independent group, 3,400 people are dying in Ireland every year as an indirect result of long-term exposure to air pollution.