London breached its own legal limit on air pollution for the whole of 2016 in just over seven days, according to worrying new figures.

Under EU rules the capital is allowed to exceed the maximum safe levels of nitrous oxide for 18 hours a year – an allocation it had burned through by the peak of the morning rush hour on Friday 8 January.

Putney High Street and Knightsbridge were the first two areas to report breaches. Last year Oxford Street reported a breach within two days of the new year beginning.

Last year the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants warned the Government that as many as 60,000 early deaths a year are caused by air pollution across the UK.

The number, higher than previously thought, was calculated by including the effects of Nitrous Oxide in the death toll for the first time.

Despite mounting evidence of their dangers, motor vehicles are still permitted in city centres – including in central London.

Boris Johnson has plans to bring in an “ultra low emission zone” in central London but the plan will not be rolled out until 2020.

Additionally, that rule will not completely ban motor traffic – instead charging the most polluting vehicles £100 a day if they drive in central London.

Both Labour and Conservative 2016 London mayoral candidates Sadiq Khan and Zac Goldsmith have said they would like to pedestrianise Oxford Street – Britain’s most polluted street.

Cities around the world have taken more dramatic action to save lives, however. An emergency scheme was rolled out in Paris last year to ban half of cars from the road on alternating days until pollution subsided.

Indyplus gallery: High air pollution levels across the UK Show all 12 1 /12 Indyplus gallery: High air pollution levels across the UK Indyplus gallery: High air pollution levels across the UK Birmingham Dust particles and pollution from cars hang over Birmingham as people suffering the effects of high levels of pollution Indyplus gallery: High air pollution levels across the UK Dover A view of Dover in Kent, covered in haze and smog Indyplus gallery: High air pollution levels across the UK Dover Dover Castle in Kent shrouded in haze and smog Indyplus gallery: High air pollution levels across the UK Nottingham The River Trent in Nottingham is surrounded by smog and haze as record levels of air pollution continue to plague the UK Indyplus gallery: High air pollution levels across the UK London A view of London skyline covered in smog.The environment department confirmed that the air pollution level could reach the top rung on its 10-point scale Indyplus gallery: High air pollution levels across the UK London A view through smog over the 02 Arena and the Canary Wharf financial district in London. The BBC weather centre predicts a potential 8 or 9 out of 10 level of air pollution likely to be found in East Anglia and the East Midlands Indyplus gallery: High air pollution levels across the UK London Dust from the Sahara combined with pollution from mainland Europe has contributed to one of the worst smogs of the year this week with record levels being recorded in parts of England Indyplus gallery: High air pollution levels across the UK London The skyscrapers of the Canary Wharf business district in London are shrouded in smog, as seen from a viewing gallery on the Orbit sculpture in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park during an tour of the park organized for the media Indyplus gallery: High air pollution levels across the UK London Air pollution hangs in the air lowering visibility towards central London and the City from east London Indyplus gallery: High air pollution levels across the UK London The 02 Arena through smog in London Indyplus gallery: High air pollution levels across the UK London The Shard and St Paul's Cathedral from Hampstead Heath in London Indyplus gallery: High air pollution levels across the UK London A general view of City Hall and the River Thames in London

Simon Birkett, founder and director of campaign group Clean Air in London, said: “It is breathtaking that toxic air pollution has breached the legal limit for a whole calendar year within a few days.

“Worse, several air pollution monitors have been vying for the dubious honour of recording the first officially monitored breach of the nitrogen dioxide legal limit in the world in 2016.

“Oxford Street would have been first again if it hadn’t been ‘offline’ since last Sunday afternoon – possibly due to vandalism of the scientific equipment.”

Dr Penny Woods, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, said: “We’ve seen pollution limits broken repeatedly in areas such as Oxford Street and Putney High Street over recent years. Given that so little has been done to address the crisis, it is no surprise that London has already reached its air pollution limits.

“Unless we clean up public transport by speeding up the introduction of cleaner buses and taxis, and invest in infrastructure for cyclists, we will be in this same position next year, and the year after.

“Air pollution causes tens of thousands of early deaths every year, increases the risk of lung cancer and impairs child lung development. Given the severity of the problem, immediate action must be taken by the government.”

Mr Johnson has cited air pollution from Heathrow airport as one reason for not expanding the airport.