German air quality 'fell short of standards' in 2008

The air quality in Germany failed to meet national standards last year, according to the country's environment agency.

Guidelines on the emission of pollutants as set out by a European programme aiming to clear the air of EU countries were exceeded in several German cities, including Stuuttgart, in 2008.

Following the findings, the country's environmental department aims to keep measures of nitrogen dioxide in the air below 40 micrograms per cubic metre this year, reported Bloomberg.

Karsten Smid, an environmentalist with Greenpeace, stated that this report "highlights the half-hearted policies implemented by successive governments".

President of the Environment Agency Andreas Troge said that the country has to work in order to "lower the pollution levels in order to enjoy healthier air".

Meanwhile, improved air quality in US cities has seen life expectancy in these locations increase noticeably since 1980, according to research undertaken by the Brigham Young University and the Harvard School of Public Health