Air pollution taking average of four months off our lives

AIR pollution is taking up to four months off the life of Irish citizens while a range of pollution from air to noise is responsible for up to 10% of illness, according to a EU report.

People living in the east and south of Ireland and the Limerick area live an average of four months less, while those in the west live two months less because of airborne particulate matter according to the report.

Across Europe the picture is worse in many countries, especially in the Benelux countries, Germany, Poland, Romania and northern Italy. The cleanest atmosphere is in Norway and Sweden.