New service to give Londoners localised pollution alerts
Londoners suffering from asthma and similar conditions are set to benefit from a new service which will alert them to high pollution levels in their part of the city and offer relevant health advice. With the airTEXT service, people suffering from asthma, emphysema, heart disease or angina can sign up to receive a text message, voice mail or e-mail informing them when local pollution levels are forecast to be high. The service was developed by Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants (CERC), who drew on information from the PROMOTE (Protocol Monitoring for the GMES Service Element on Atmospheric Composition) Project, which is part of the joint European Space Agency/European Commission Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) initiative. The forecasts combine satellite data on regional air quality with information on local traffic patterns and data from monitoring stations around the city. The regional component is important because not all pollution found in a city originates there. Research shows that depending on the weather, up to half of the air pollution in some European cities can come from elsewhere on the continent. 'Previously air pollution forecasts have been focused on very large geographical areas and the methods for communicating the information have been poor,' commented CERC scientist Dr Iarla Kilbane-Dawe. 'AirTEXT represents a revolution in air pollution forecasting with localised information being sent directly to the individual.' As well as informing recipients of high air pollution levels, the text messages describe which health effects could be expected, such as wheezing or chest pains, and suggest ways of relieving or even avoiding these symptoms, for example by avoiding strenuous activity and long periods outdoors, or increasing medication levels. A sample text message reads: 'MODERATE air pollution TOMORROW. You may notice mild health effects but these are unlikely to require action. If you have concerns please consult your GP'. A pilot service has been running in the London borough of Croydon since July 2005, where it has been highly successful; according to a recent survey, 80% of users found the service had helped them to manage their symptoms better and reduce their exposure to air pollution. 'Air pollution causes around one thousand premature deaths each year, and we must do everything we can to cut emissions,' said Deputy London Mayor Nicky Gavron. 'This pioneering service will provide people with crucial information about peak periods of air pollution localised for their part of London, so they can take action. It could literally save lives.'
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