AN EXPERT has warned of an 'unacceptable emergency' in Oxford as new research exposes the health impact of 'toxic' pollution.

A report published today reveals that, of seven cities assessed in England, children in Oxford are worst-affected by stunted lung growth caused by roadside air pollution.

Anya Gopfert, a public health specialist at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Oxford has horrendous traffic and as a result, the air pollution in areas of Oxford is dangerously high.

"One effect of air pollution is stunted lung growth in children at worryingly high levels.

"The children mostly likely to experience this are those living in the areas with highest air pollution levels - often the most deprived neighbourhoods."

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The findings revealed that levels of recorded roadside air pollution stunt lung growth in children by approximately 14 per cent in Oxford, 13 per cent in London, eight per cent in Birmingham, five per cent in Bristol, five per cent in Liverpool, three per cent in Nottingham and four per cent in Southampton.

Dr Gopfert said: "This is an unacceptable public health emergency and cannot continue.

"We have the solutions to prevent air pollution, so lets make those happen in Oxford."

The King’s College London report was released by a coalition of 15 health and environment organisations, including ClientEarth, the British Lung Foundation, and the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change.

Researchers also found an increased risk of cardiac arrest, heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and bronchitis, and concluded that living within 50 metres of a major road could increase the risk of developing lung cancer by up to 10 per cent.

The report suggested that cutting air pollution by one fifth would reduce the number of lung cancer cases by six per cent in Oxford.

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Andrea Lee, clean air campaigns and policy manager at ClientEarth, said: "Toxic air puts an unfair burden on people’s lives. The good news is that solutions are available.

"The UK’s first clean air zone in London is already having an impact, but much more needs to be done to help people across the country move to cleaner forms of transport."

Groups are calling for the next UK government to commit to meeting stricter World Health Organisation guidelines by 2030.

In February, Friends of the Earth revealed the 22 places in Oxfordshire that were breaching air pollution limits.

The worst was Hennef Way in Banbury, followed by Yarnells Road in Botley.

In June, Oxford City Council said that over the past decade, air pollution levels in Oxford have decreased by 36.8 per cent due its work to tackle the issue, and that of Oxfordshire County Council.