Latest news with #airpollution
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Environmental education for children at City Hall on Clean Air Day
Children from 13 Bradford schools gathered on Thursday (June 19) to learn about the impact of air pollution. The gathering, which took place on Clean Air Day, saw students taking part in hands-on activities at City Hall. They learnt about the workings of hydrogen fuel cars; explored sources of pollution in the home; and even designed their own low emission Lego cities. Children also had the opportunity to explore active travel routes and consider nature-related challenges. Partners from National Education Nature Park, Born in Bradford, and the Climate Ambassadors led sessions, as did Bradford Council's Sustainability Service and the Living Well and Active Travel teams. In the words of a spokesperson for City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, "schools in Bradford continue to be supported" by the Clean Air Schools programme, which is funded by funds generated from the Bradford Clean Air Zone. A spokesperson said: "Cleaner air has health benefits for everyone, but especially for the elderly and young children, as well as those with existing health conditions. "Pollutants in the air that have been traced to vehicles can lead to respiratory infections, decreased lung function, and heart problems, and can worsen symptoms of asthma. "Removing or limiting the number of polluting vehicles that can enter a city or town centre will improve its air quality, having a positive impact on the health of those living and working there." A spokesperson said that "the impacts of air pollution are felt by everyone, but not equally," and referred to potentially higher levels of air pollution exposure for those who live close to a busy main road, or in an area where many people have wood burning stoves. Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council's executive member for healthy people and places, said: "Clean Air Day is a great way for everyone to learn more about why any amount of air pollution can be damaging to our health. "It is fantastic to see so many schools taking part in this event and also our Clean Air Schools Programme, from assemblies and class workshops to grants and anti-idling activities - all designed to reduce air pollution and improve the health of our residents. "The Bradford Clean Air Zone is really making a difference: air quality is reducing both inside and outside the Clean Air Zone, and health benefits are being realised across the district." More information about the Clean Air Hub is available at
BBC News
14 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Leicester pupils paddle to school in clean air initiative
Pupils in Leicester paddled down the river to school as part of an initiative to raise awareness of air Castle Mead Academy (CMA) students arrived at school in a bell boat on Thursday after about 15 minutes on the River Air Day saw several other schools in the city taking part in a range of outdoor Burt, a geography teacher at CMA, said the paddling idea came from seeing busy traffic on the road outside the school and had received "a lot of support from colleagues and families alike". The pupils were instructed by Leicester Outdoor Pursuit Centre and had "a really good time", according to Ms said: "Days like today are really important to raise awareness of the air pollution which is caused by traffic, especially in busy cities like Leicester."We'd love to see some more sustainable infrastructure around our school, such as bollards or pedestrian crossings and things like that."The events were supported by Leicester City Council, as well as charities Sustrans and Living in the city, University of Leicester organised a walk in Victoria Park and the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust had information stands in hospital restaurants offering advice and information to staff and the public on how they can help reduce air pollution.
The Independent
14 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Dyson purifier hot + cool formaldehyde: The £700 air purifier that tackles heatwaves and hay fever
Over the last few years, we've seen a big rise in home improvement and DIY, a penchant for viral candles, and a surging number of flights booked as 2025 is predicted to be biggest ever summer for travel. It's a random mix of topics with one thing in common: air pollution. Leading doctors have warned that 99 per cent of the population are breathing in 'toxic air', and air pollution has been declared a public health crisis here in the UK, possibly leading to 30,000 preventable deaths this year alone. It's not just us adults impacted by bad air quality. Recent NHS England data shows that in some parts of the country, air pollution is linked to 33 per cent of childhood asthma cases. But it's not all doom and gloom, as there are several ways that we can ensure we're breathing clean air. If you want to purify your air at home, providing a better quality of living for you and your family, we may just have found the ticket. Enter the Dyson purifier hot + cool formaldehyde, the brand's bestselling air purifier (plus fan and heater). It's designed to clean the air not only of the usual particles picked up by purifiers with a high efficiency particulate absorbing (HEPA) filter, but also to grab all formaldehyde-based resins that come from plywood and fibreboard, insulating materials, paint, wallpaper, varnishes, and some household cleaning products. This is no small task: formaldehydes are 500 times smaller than particles of 0.1 microns (10 microns is the limit for the naked eye) and to be efficient specifically at catching this chemical, Dyson created an intelligent formaldehyde sensor that's gel-based and will accurately catch and destroy it at a molecular level without confusing it with other volatile organic compounds. Is hayfever a problem in your house? Dyson's clever purifier also captures and removes the microscopic particles which may cause allergies, acting as a powerful shield against pollen, dust, pet dander and mould. When paired with a great vacuum, you're ready to tackle pollen season head-on. But these are all huge claims, and so we tested this purifier to find out if it could really clean our air. Why you can trust IndyBest reviews You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Forbes
a day ago
- Health
- Forbes
Low Concentrations Of Air Pollution Can Still Impact Health, Study Finds
HOBOKEN, NJ - JULY 20: The sun rises on the skyline of lower Manhattan and One World Trade Center in ... More New York City as a man walks through a park on July 20, 2023, in Hoboken, New Jersey. (Photo by) Exposure to air pollution air even at low concentrations can still have significant air impacts, according to a new analysis. The report by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) highlights the growing evidence about the health impacts linked to air pollution and calls on the U.K. government to treat it as a serious and preventable health risk. It emphasises that poor ventilation, damp and mould, and emissions from domestic heating, gas cooking and household products all contribute significantly to poor health. The study, which has been published to mark Clean Air Day (19 June), also warns air pollution could contribute towards 30,000 deaths in the U.K. this year and cost the NHS and the economy billions. It urges the U.K. government to recognise air pollution as a public health issue, rather than a solely environmental one and tackle emissions from various sources, including wood burning, agriculture, transport and indoor pollutants. And it also calls for targeted support to protect the most vulnerable and affected communities and a nationwide public health campaign on air pollution. The RCP's special adviser on air quality, Professor Sir Stephen Holgate, from the University of Southampton, said up to 700 diseases have now been linked with air pollution in an interview. Professor Holgate added air pollution itself has changed and there is growing evidence to show how smaller pollution particles can penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream. 'Air quality is also interacting with many other factors,' he told me. 'It only very rarely causes a single disease, but can interact with other health issues, like diet, lifestyle, inequalities, and stress to act like a catalyst and force them to accelerate disease processes than in the absence of pollution.' Professor Holgate added air pollution is traditionally regarded as an environmental issue, but now needs to be seen much more as a public health concern. 'We need to get more public health messaging out there, and better champions in local authorities, GP surgeries and hospitals to tell the story about why air pollution is bad for you, and what can be done about it. 'And we have got to integrate air pollution policies with climate change policies, because some of these air pollutants like black carbon, are up to 1,500 times more potent than carbon dioxide at global warming and therefore cleaning up our urban environment will have a big impact towards achieving net zero,' he added. Clean Air Day is a national event organised by the non-profit Global Action Plan. As part of this year's event, more than 100 healthcare professionals will meet today at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH) in London and march to Parliament Square to demand action on air pollution. When they arrive, they will deliver a letter to the U.K government, which calls on it to meet World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines. Global Action Plan's director of policy and campaigns, Larissa Lockwood said air pollution levels in urban areas across the country currently exceed the recommended limits set by the WHO, in a statement. This Clean Air Day healthcare workers and organisations have sent a clear message to the U.K. government that it's time to bring our air quality targets in line with the overwhelming medical consensus,' added Lockwood. The charity Asthma + Lung UK has also released the details of a new poll for Clean Air Day, which highlights the impact air pollution can have on people's health. Almost one in five of people with lung conditions surveyed said air pollution had caused an asthma attack or serious flare-up, while more than half said it left them feeling breathless. The poll also found nearly one in six respondents said they avoid leaving home when air pollution levels are high, and one in 10 reported feeling low or depressed because of it. Even among those who believe they're not affected by air pollution, a third of those surveyed were unaware of the risks, suggesting a significant gap in awareness.5 Asthma + Lung UK chief executive Sarah Sleet said the U.K. urgently needs tougher air quality laws, aligned with WHO guidelines, in a statement.
CBS News
a day ago
- Automotive
- CBS News
New Yorker says reporting idling vehicles through city program makes him over six figures
New Yorker says reporting idling vehicles makes him over six figures New York City — Two years ago, a New Yorker who calls himself "Streeter" left his job in marketing to become a soldier in the war on idling. "Shortly after 6, I'm out on my bike, looking for idling trucks," Streeter said. "I'm essentially biking 6, 7, 8, 9 hours a day." In New York City, it's against the law for trucks and non-city buses to idle — keeping the engine running while stationary — for more than three minutes. However, the law is rarely enforced. That's where the big money comes in for Streeter and others who report idlers. Under the Citizens Air Complaint Program, they can record idling trucks or buses, report them and keep 25% of any fines, which typically range from $350 to $600. Streeter says he makes in excess of six figures reporting idlers. George Pakenham, who's spent much of the last two decades working to clean up the air in New York City, helped make the law happen. "It's a public health issue," Pakenham said. A former Wall Street banker, Pakenham watched his brother, a non-smoker, battle Stage 4 lung cancer. Then he started wondering about the number of vehicles sitting idle and polluting the air. "So I walked up to the limo driver, tapped on the window and said, 'How about just shutting your engine off?' And he did," Pakenham said. He took his frustrations to city legislators. In 2017, they passed the law allowing people to report idling vehicles. Other cities are following suit — Los Angeles and Philadelphia are working on similar programs to stop idling. Pakenham says New York City has made just under $70 million off the program. But catching idlers isn't always easy money. And truck drivers feel "abused" over the program, said Zach Miller, a lobbyist for the Trucking Association of New York. "They find this to be a bounty hunter program," Miller said. When asked if truckers could just cut their engine off as a solution, Miller said, "They do not understand the intricacies of driving a truck in New York City. It is very hard work. There are trucks that have to operate their lift gate 15, 20 times a day." "Drive a truck in New York City for a week, and then come back to me and tell me that's an easy solution," he said. Pakenham still believes it's a major health issue. "Would you like to stand behind a bus for five minutes and breathe? I don't think so. I don't think anyone would."
