Abstract
One aim of the UK's Air Quality Strategy is to cut emissions of particles, and one policy option is to fit light-duty diesel vehicles with particle traps. However, there is a more immediate, lower cost and more effective option — switching to LPG-fuelled vehicles. Using this option, this study estimates that vehicles owners could save in the range of £170 to £400 in annual operating cost; UK particle emissions could be cut an additional 2-7% in the target year 2010, primarily in urban areas where they are most harmful; and this reduction could cause 100-400 fewer hospitalisations for respiratory problems and 20-80 fewer premature deaths over the period of impact. It also could cut particles' property damage by nearly £1 million per year.