Titled ‘Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air pollution’, the report finds that the costs of health problems resulting from exposure to air pollution add up to more than £20bn every year.

It adds that while some health effects associated with air pollution are well recognised, such as increases in hospital admissions and deaths from cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases and lung cancer, researchers are finding that air pollution may be associated with a much wider range of health conditions. For example, the report considers the evidence for effects of air pollution on diabetes and neurological disease, as well as how exposure during pregnancy may be associated with low birth weight and pre-term births.

The report looks at the UK’s changing transport set-up and how this has impacted on air pollution – it also includes an overview on whether low emission zones work. And it also takes a look at the issue of indoor pollution, which it says is often overlooked.

The report also makes recommendations for action, including for the Government, employers and schools to promote alternatives to conventional petrol and diesel cars including expanding cycle networks.

It adds that when air pollution limits are exceeded, local authorities must have the power to close or divert roads to reduce the volume of traffic, especially near schools.

And the report calls for effective monitoring of air pollution including the development of new technologies.

Professor Stephen Holgate, chair of the RCP/RCPCH working party on air pollution, said: “The evidence base summarised in this report emphasises that the time has now arrived to take air pollution, as currently encountered in the UK, much more seriously than has been the case. It should be considered a major public health problem deserving of multiple measures to drive down exposure in as many ways as possible.”