Plans to tighten European anti-pollution legislation could force the closure of swathes of industry in the UK, business leaders have warned. The European Commission tabled proposals just before Christmas to toughen directives dealing with dust, sulphur and nitrogen emissions that cause acid rain and smog, saying national governments were set to miss targets that would save tens of thousands of lives. However, BusinessEurope, which represents employers across the European Union, says the cost of compliance could force many plants to close. [refers to Rio Tinto Alcan (part of Rio Tinto)]