Cars 'bigger polluters than planes'

Research carried out at Edinburgh Airport has suggested that road travel could be having more of an effect on the environment than air travel.

A study carried out by airport operator BAA found that higher levels of nitrogen dioxide were detected around Edinburgh Airport's surrounding roads and forecourts than its airfield.

However, the research did not take into account the amount of gas that aircraft produce when they are 1,000 metres above the ground and their emissions are dispersed by high winds, the Scotsman reports.

Edinburgh Airport is considered one of the leaders in encouraging its passengers to be eco-friendly, with around a quarter of people arriving at the hub via public transport, the highest ratio of any UK hub without a rail link.

Victoria Colling, the airport's environment manager, said: "One million more passengers a year come to the airport by bus than five years ago, thanks to new bus services and the priority we have given to public transport on the airport forecourt.

"However, we are focused on increasing this figure even more in the months ahead."

Ms Collings claimed that the research could surprise a lot of people, who may expect the majority of emissions to be centred around the runway.