New and improved air pollution website
Posted on 22/08/2011
Commuters in London
The Environmental Research Group (ERG) at King’s has updated its London Air Quality Network website, making information on air pollution more accessible to the public than ever before.
The LondonAir site is already the primary source of air pollution information for London, providing hourly updates on pollution levels across the capital. During pollution incidents, such as the Easter weekend earlier this year when a ‘smog alert’ was issued for the capital, the site receives thousands of visitors a day.
The new website features a guide on topics including advice about exercising outside, ozone levels and how to avoid pollution. Users also have access to videos on an array of subjects, including the history of air pollution in London and how the ERG monitors pollution levels across the city.
Additional features include details of different pollutants such as carbon monoxide, ozone and nitrogen dioxide and advice on lesser known aspects of air pollution such as from fireworks or that which occurs indoors.
Dr Gary Fuller, Air Quality Monitoring Manager at King’s said: ‘There is mounting evidence to support the links between air pollution and adverse health effects. Management of air pollution requires action by all levels of Government and by each of us in our daily lives.
‘The LondonAir website has a vital role in supporting the air quality management initiatives in the capital. We are especially proud of our new guide, and think it will really help people understand the real impact of air pollution on their lives.’
A mobile app on iphone or android devices is already available for download, allowing Londoners to monitor air pollution when on the move. The whole site is now also accessible on mobile devices.
The ERG is a leading provider of air quality information and research in the UK, using over 100 monitoring sites across London to measure air pollution levels. The group focuses on research to understand the interaction between air pollution and health effects.
The ERG also manages air quality networks on behalf of Defra (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs) and local authorities throughout South East England.
Visit the updated LondonAir website at http://www.londonair.org.uk/LondonAir/Guide/Default.aspx
For more information about the ERG at King’s, see http://www.erg.kcl.ac.uk/
For more information about King's, see the King's in Brief page.