Pollution regulations overhauled by Obama

The new US president Barack Obama has reversed a decision made by his predecessor George Bush on relaxing air quality monitoring, it has been reported.

Having been in office for less than a week, the new president has decided to retighten rules on emissions as he ordered the country's Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider allowing states to set their own emissions limits.

California is among the 13 states that have applied for the national waiver in favour of regulating itself.

Obama stated that there has been little help from the government on these issues in the past.

"Instead of working as a partner, Washington has stood in their way," he said.

In related air quality news, Europe is less foggy than it was 30 years ago, according to a report carried out on behalf of the Atomic Energy Commission in France.