TO say that passive inhalation of vehicle exhaust fumes day after day should not affect healthy people is ludicrous ('Clean air targets', Letters, May 19).

Stationary or slow moving traffic, as occurs in Gillygate, Bootham etc, is the worst atmospheric polluter ever.

Under these conditions engines are grossly inefficient and continually discharge huge amounts of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and all manner of other lethal substances into the city air.

Inhalation of exhaust fumes on a daily basis is deadly to all, not just people with chest complaints.

Subjected to these atmospheric conditions the healthy of today are the affected of the future.

A J Parkin,

North Parade, York.

Updated: 09:22 Wednesday, May 25, 2005