Asthma sufferers and people with heart disease will now be able learn more about the day’s pollution levels through coloured maps accessed via the council’s website.
The maps will outline the daily forecast for the borough indicating where high, medium and low air pollution can be found. The air pollution forecasts are provided by Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants (CERC), who have developed the new street level air pollution forecasting service called YourAir.
The forecasts predict effects on health on a scale from 1 to 10 for individual pollutants NO2, ozone, and particulates (PM10s). As well as a borough-wide colour map, there are predictions for 20 street locations throughout Croydon. This will enable people living or working in Croydon to take steps to protect their health during high pollution.
This new forecasting method supports the council’s innovative AirTEXT project – a unique air pollution warning service via text message.
This involves sending a text message to the mobile phones of 1000 vulnerable residents during the evening before days when air pollution may be moderate or high. The message will also provide information on the steps they can take to minimise exposure to pollution and better manage any symptoms, improving quality of life and hopefully reducing the costs to the NHS of visits to the doctor or hospital.
Cllr Paul Smith, cabinet member for public protection and crime reduction, said: “The map is easy to understand and will be of great help to many of the borough’s residents who need to know when pollution levels are high so that they can take steps protect their health.
“Once again Croydon is leading the way when it comes to finding innovative new ways to combat pollution and alert residents to potential problems. We already provide air pollution forecasts via a freephone hotline. But by using website maps and text messages we are also mindful of new ways of communication and aim to provide a service to all our residents in ways that are convenient to them.”
If you want to see the maps and forecast information go to the council website; www.croydon.gov.uk/environment and click on air quality.
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Notes for Editors
PROMOTE is a project of the European Space Agency (ESA) that seeks to develop beneficial operational services for organisations and citizens that will use atmospheric data to address the concerns of both policy makers and individual citizens. PROMOTE is itself part of a larger initiative of ESA and the European Commission called Global Monitoring for Environment and Security. This seeks to use the resources of ESA to address concerns in many areas. The topics involved are diverse, ranging from coastal erosion to humanitarian relief.
The Council’s freephone air quality hotline is available by calling 0800 317 947.
The air pollution forecast for Croydon can be found at www.croydon.gov.uk/environment
AirTEXT is a two year project in partnership with Croydon Primary Care Trust, South West London Health Protection Unit, Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants, and it is funded by PROMOTE
