http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7347065.stmHigh levels of pollution may have contributed to the deaths of thousands of people in England from pneumonia in recent years, a study suggests.
A team at the University of Birmingham examined death rates from the disease and pollution levels in 352 local authorities between 1996 and 2004.
Writing in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, they reported a "strong correlation" between the two.
But the researchers conceded that social factors may also be at play.
Calculations were made by looking at how many deaths there were in each locality in excess of the national average.
These figures were then cross-checked with a range of pollutant levels, including engine exhaust emissions.
Culprit car
In total, 386,374 people died of pneumonia during the eight years examined, but there were significant regional variations. Lewisham in London had the highest number of deaths per head, Berwick-on-Tweed the least.
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We are killing ourselves