Whatʼs going on here? Air quality monitoring stations dotted around the planet have been inadvertently collecting airborne environmental DNA (eDNA) without anybody noticing, finds a new report. The remarkable discovery reveals that thousands of filters routinely testing for pollutants are unintentionally breathing in trace eDNA shed by animals, plants, and fungi. What does this mean? In recent years, researchers have discovered eDNA…
What’s going on here? Last week a new bill entitled the “Clean Air (Human Rights) Act” had its first reading in the House of Lords. What does this mean? This is the first step in enshrining in UK law the right to clean air across all forms of pollution. The law will be known as “Ella’s Law” after Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah (pictured), a…
What’s Going On Here? Global Action Plan, the Philips Foundation and the University of Manchester (UoM) reveal results from new modelling which suggests that maintaining lower air pollution levels by 20% could improve the development of a child’s working memory by 6%, the equivalent of four weeks extra learning time per year. The announcement has been made today, 8th October on National Clean Air…
What’s Going On Here? New research, commissioned by the Clean Air Fund, has found that improving air quality in the UK could boost the economy by £1.6 billion each year. What Does This Mean? This new study, conducted by CBI Economics, has found that by reducing premature deaths, sickness absence and lower productivity at work, there’s the potential to save the UK…
What’s Going On Here? Household products like nail varnish, air freshener and detergents could pollute just as much—if not MORE—than vehicles. What Does This Mean? We’re talking about VOCs. As some chemistry buffs may already know, this is not some new millennial slang, but stands for Volatile Organic Compounds. VOCs have a high vapour pressure at room temperature, meaning they release “off-gas” in…
What’s Going On Here? Thursday 20th June (Today!) marks the UK’s largest clean air campaign, Clean Air Day, co-ordinated by our friends over at Global Action Plan. The event highlights the significance of air quality on human health, but most importantly provides a platform to share ideas that will improve air quality and the health of ourselves and those around us. What Does…
What’s the problem with Air Pollution? The problem is simple. Air pollution is causing the premature deaths over around 9,500 Londoners every year. A joint report by over 40 MPs has described the problem as a public health emergency. The World Health Organisation have described it as the “single biggest environmental health risk” In April, during a particularly severe episode of pollution, London’s air quality was worse…
