News archive 2002

King's launches London air pollution website

28 Jan 2002, PR 03/02

The new London Air Quality Network internet pages, which enable visitors to view pollution levels where they live, are launched today, Monday 28 January.

The pages have been created by the Environmental Research Group (ERG) based at King's College London.

This easy-to-use, internet site displays maps showing the air pollution across London and is updated hourly. The site development has been sponsored by the Environment Agency.

Visitors to the site can view pollution measurements in their own area by simply entering their complete postcode. In addition to these ‘real time’ measurements, the site also contains a user-friendly 'Guide to Air Pollution'. The aim of the site is to raise public awareness of air pollution issues and support the air quality management activities of local councils and the GLA.

“The site is a significant step forward in the speedy provision of air pollution measurements for London to those interested in this issue,” said Gary Fuller, Air Quality Monitoring Manager, ERG. “Moreover, these new pages allow interested members of the public, council officers and researchers to examine in detail, air pollution related questions across London.”

New tools allow web users to plot graphs of air pollution and carry out statistical analysis of measurements from different monitoring sites. This includes comparison of measurements to UK and EU air pollution guidelines.

Each local council has a dedicated set of pages within the site which describe the monitoring in their area and shows maps of the latest pollution measurements. Links are also provided to other information suppliers.

Notes to editors

King’s College London
King's College London is one of the two oldest and largest colleges of the University of London with some 12,400 undergraduate students and over 4,700 postgraduates in ten schools of study. The College had 24 of its subject-areas awarded the highest rating of 5* and 5 for research quality, demonstrating excellence at an international level. It is in the top group of five universities for research earnings and has an annual turnover of over £300 million and research income from grants and contracts in excess of £87 million (2000-2001).

The Environmental Research Group
The Environmental Research Group was formally part of the South East Institute of Public Health (SEIPH), created in 1991 by the South East Thames Regional Health Authority. During 1993 SEIPH became part of the United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St Thomas's Hospitals which merged with King's in 1998.

The Environmental Research Group is now part of the School of Health & Life Sciences at King's where, under the directorship of Frank Kelly, Professor of Environmental Health, they work closely with other researchers investigating the effects of air pollution. The Environmental Research Group chiefly supports local councils and the GLA in the monitoring and management of air pollution.

The London Air Quality Network
The London Air Quality Network (LAQN) was originally formed in 1993 and is operated and managed by the ERG. The LAQN brings together the air quality monitoring activities of the local councils in and around London to provide the overall perspective necessary to understand and manage air pollution in the region.






Further information
Public Relations Department
Email: melanie.gardner@kcl.ac.uk
Tel: 020 7848 3073

Next:
World first: unique method of treating children born with heart defects - results announced
Letter to all staff from the Principal
King's Military Archives honours Professor Sir Michael Howard
C18th volumes presented to King's
BMJ article

Previous:
King's chemist wins top European prize
Knighthood for King's Vice-Principal
Top teaching score for Philosophy
Research ratings improve at King's
Herbert Smith donation to King’s new library


This information is provided by the Public Relations Department
Tel: 020-7848 3202  Fax: 020-7848 3739  Email: pr@kcl.ac.uk