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New research has claimed London’s black cabs are up to “30 times as toxic as personal cars”.

Research from the Real Urban Emissions (True) Initiative has been carried out on CO2 emissions from over 100,000 vehicles, including taxis and buses.

Findings from the research claimed black cabs have a “disproportionate impact” on London’s streets, and the most common black cab models in London are “polluting the streets with nitrogen oxide emissions up to 30 times the level or personal petrol cars the same age”.

The research also claimed that some of the newer models of black cabs, Euro 5 cabs, are producing 50 per cent more nitrogen oxide than older models, like Euro 3 or Euro 4.

Steve McNamara, General Secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, has previously said the black cab trade is working to help curb pollution levels.

In terms of average personal cars, the research said Euro 5 models, and older vehicles, are responsible for about 60 per cent of greater London’s nitrogen oxide levels.

As well as testing in London, researchers plan to take further data from Paris and other big cities to add to a rating system, to better understand how cities can tackle pollution.

Sheila Watson, Deputy Director of the FIA Foundation said: “Dirty vehicles have been clogging the air with their toxic exhaust fumes, and taking a huge toll on the health of Londoners, especially children, for too long.

“Both policy makers and consumers have not seen the improvements in emissions which they should have based on the measured emissions of vehicles.

“Evidence-based policy is the only way cities can have a significant impact on air quality, but that demands reliable real world data.

“That is why FIA Foundation is delighted to support this work, in partnership with the Greater London Authority and the Mayor, which we hope will strengthen the transport policy framework for a cleaner, safer city.”

Mr McNamara previously said air pollution in London is at "crisis levels" and called for "urgent action".

He said: "London’s black cab trade is already working to help tackle the capital’s air pollution," he said. "We are proud of individual taxi drivers doing their bit.

"Every new taxi you’ll see on London streets can run on electricity. However, we need more rapid electric charging points across London to power the new zero-emission capable cabs”.

The LTDA has been approached for further comment by the Standard.

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the provided data “underlines why we at City Hall have been delivering hard-hitting urgently needed policies to tackle vehicle emissions, such as cleaning up the bus fleet and introducing the world’s first Ultra Low Emission Zone, 24 hours, seven days a week in central London from next April.”