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Emissions of toxic fumes from traffic have fallen to levels not seen in London for more than 70 years as a result of the coronavirus lockdown, research suggests today.

Data from 13 government-run pollution monitoring sites point to unprecedented declines in concentrations of harmful gases such as nitrogen oxides (NOX) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) as many drivers switched to working from home.

The analysis suggests that emissions from cars, vans, lorries, taxis and buses could be at their lowest since the Model T Ford was still a common sight.

Experts at York University compared readings on Sunday with those before the Government’s request for social distancing on March 16. They stripped out the effect of other factors such as wind speed and direction to make a direct comparison.

They found that levels of NOX are down by between 22 and 62 per cent on a like-for-like basis, and NO2 reduced by between 13 per cent and 43 per cent.

But they believe the fall in traffic-created pollution could be higher as much of the remaining “background” levels of the gases come from sources such as central heating and wood-burning fires.

Latest data from the Cabinet Office suggest levels of traffic in London are down by about three quarters to those equivalent to the mid-Fifties.

David Carslaw, reader in air pollution at York University, whose team carried out the analysis, said if that was the case actual emissions would be well below Fifties levels as modern vehicles are up to 100 times cleaner.