Three Aberdeen streets have been ranked as some of the worst in Scotland for pollution by an environmental charity.
Friends of the Earth Scotland used data gathered from roadside and kerbside monitoring stations around the country.
The city’s Market Street was the worst for particulate matter – fine particles released into the air in vehicle fumes – while Union Street and commuter route Wellington Road also came out badly.
Glasgow’s Hope Street was found to have the highest levels of nitrogen dioxide and fine particles in 2013.
These forms of air pollution have been linked to health problems such as asthma and other respiratory conditions.
The charity said new research has linked exposure to fine particles with heart attacks, and that levels of air pollution were below EU and UK standards in some cases.
Other areas with high levels of pollution included Dundee, Edinburgh, Paisley, Perth and North Ayrshire.
Emilia Hanna, air pollution campaigner for Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “Air pollution has remained the biggest environmental threat to people in Scotland in 2013.
“Fumes from cars, lorries, buses and factories are killing off more people than car crashes.
“Air pollution is like passive smoking, we do not choose to breathe in this poisonous air, it is inflicted upon us.
“We need action on traffic levels and the types of vehicles allowed on our most polluted streets.
“We need more investment in walking and cycling so that it is easier for people to leave their cars at home, we need cleaner and more affordable public transport, and we need to discourage the most polluting vehicles, including through the use of low emission zones.”
Environment minister Paul Wheelhouse said the government’s proposals to improve air quality would be laid out later this year, and added: “The Scottish Government is committed to working with partner agencies such as local authorities to tackle air quality in areas where it is a problem.
“Our Active Travel campaign aims to encourage more people to walk or cycle short journeys rather than using the car, where possible. Mile for mile it’s the short car journeys that create the most carbon emissions – one in three car journeys in Scotland are under two miles, where engines do not operate at optimal efficiency.”