TOUGH action to curb air pollution including the removal of tax concessions on company cars has been called for by the British Medical Association and Friends of the Earth in two separate reports. The BMA has called on Government, local authorities, the Health Service and employers to work together to improve health by curbing road traffic growth and encouraging the use of healthier forms of transport.

The report, 'Road Transport and Health' suggests that road transport is responsible for 80% of total vehicle emissions in London and 25% nationwide. It also claims that petrol exhaust fumes have been implicated in deaths from leukaemia and that diesel particulates can aggravate bronchitis and asthma.

The BMA report calls for action on around 50 issues including an end to tax concessions on company cars; consideration of the abolition of vehicle excise duty and the transfer of costs to fuel duty. Friends of the Earth claims air pollution reaches levels harmful to health once every five days in Britain. The organisation is calling on the Government to support the Road Traffic Reduction (UK Targets) Bill which would set national targets for reducing road traffic.