Rise in emissions of ten air pollutants

Emissions of nearly half the air pollutants monitored by the government increased in 2010, according to environment department (DEFRA) data.

Of the 26 substances modelled by the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory, only 14 were found to have dropped and two were thought to have been stable.

This marks a distinct change in the trend from previous years: emissions of particulates, benzene, mercury and other air pollutants had declined almost continuously since 1990, when records began.