Dieselgate' kills 5,000 in Europe alone

Emissions from diesel cars rigged to appear eco-friendly may be responsible for 5,000 air pollution deaths per year in Europe alone, according to a study published on Monday.

The numbers are in line with previous assessments of deaths due to the so-called ‘Dieselgate’ scandal, which erupted when carmaker Volkswagen admitted in 2015 to cheating on vehicle emissions tests. Many other carmakers have since fallen under suspicion.

In May this year, a study in the journal Nature said “excess” emissions from diesel vehicles exceeding certification limits were associated with about 38,000 “premature” deaths globally in 2015.