The cost of transatlantic flights should be increased by £56 and European flights £7 to pay for the damage done to the environment and compensate those living near airports for adverse health effects, a report said yesterday.

Fumes from aircraft increased the risk of cancer for people living nearby and children's learning could also be affected, said Plane Truth, published by the campaigning group Transport 2000. It called for environmental emission charges to be applied to airlines and airport operators. Currently the industry is subsidised and does not pay tax or VAT on aviation fuel.

The report was a response to predictions that by 2015 air travel volumes would more than double from 1995 levels. The UK would need the equivalent of four Heathrow airports to cope with projected growth, or another Gatwick every two years.

Report author John Whitelegg said: "Half a million people are adversely affected by Heathrow alone. Heathrow is responsible for 10% of all the United Kingdom's volatile organic compounds.

"VOCs like Benzine are carcinogenic. If we accept government forecasts of growth in passengers going through the UK from 130m to possibly 400m by 2015 the least we need is research beforehand."

Professor Whitelegg said airlines should pay emission charges.

"That will have a direct impact on low-cost airlines," he said. "These charges are not intended to stop people flying but to set up a fairer pricing policy in terms of health and the environment.

"It's a straightforward application of the principle that the polluter pays."