London: A new study in Britain has found that pneumonia, caused by high levels of pollution, is killing thousands of people every year.

Researchers at the University of Birmingham examined death rates from the disease and pollution levels in 352 local authorities in Britain from 1996 to 2004 and found a "strong correlation" between the two.

"High mortality rates were observed in areas with elevated ambient pollution levels. The strongest single effect was an increase in pneumonia deaths. Road transport was the chief source of the emissions responsible, although it was not possible to discriminate between the different chemical components," the British media quoted lead author Prof George Knox as saying.

However, the researchers conceded that social factors may also be at play.

The study revealed that in total, 390,000 people died from pneumonia in England during the last eight years, with 35 local authorities accounting for around 54,000 more than would be expected.

Calculations were made by looking at how many deaths there were in each locality in excess of the national average.

These figures were cross-checked with a range of pollutant levels, including engine exhaust emissions.

According to the researchers, the annual number of excess deaths, or those which could be attributed to the pollution, could approach those of the 1952 London smog, which killed 4,000 people.

The findings of the study have been published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Source : PTI