The challenge

Poor air quality is one of the most serious public health risks facing us today. Caused mainly by pollution from road traffic, it is associated with a number of health problems and can reduce life expectancy by an average of over 11 years. Children, older people and people with asthma are particularly vulnerable while those from low-income families and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected. Products that tackle air pollution could have a significant impact on people’s well-being and make everyone’s lives a little bit healthier.

In the UK

• Nearly 40 million people in the UK are living in areas where illegal levels of air pollution from diesel vehicles risk damaging their health.
• 59% of the population are living in towns and cities where nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution breaches the lawful level of 40 microgrammes per cubic metre of air.
• Levels of nitrogen dioxide have been above legal limits in almost 90% of urban areas in the UK since 2010.
• The fumes are estimated to cause 23,500 early deaths in the UK every year.
• Air pollution was declared a public health emergency by a cross-party committee of MPs in April 2016.

Examples

The following products and services are ways in which air quality could be improved in the UK:

• AasthmaPi – Developed by 9 year old Arnav Sharma, the AsthmaPi prevents asthma attacks by monitoring pollution in the air so that the asthma sufferer can understand what triggers the attacks.
• Pigeon Patrol – Plume Labs, a technology company that helps consumers track and reduce their exposure to air pollution, put air pollution sensors on pigeons to map air quality across London. The initiative was created in partnership with global marketing and technology agency DigitasLBi with support from industry partners Twitter and aims to raise awareness of air pollution.
• Buggy Air – provided an eye catching means of engaging the public and encouraging participation by creating an accurate mobile sensing kit that can be fitted to a child’s pushchair

Resources

Want to read more about air pollution in the UK? Read more below:

• https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/air-pollution/
• https://www.healthyair.org.uk/the-problem/