Category Archives: Uncategorized

Woodburning and Air Quality in the UK

This week marks the 70th anniversary of the Great Smog, a pollution event that engulfed London in a thick ‘pea-soup’ cloud of noxious gases. The pollution event was caused by calm, cold conditions coupled with the burning of coal and other solid fuels. Early estimates reported that more than 4,000 people died; however, recent researchContinueContinue reading “Woodburning and Air Quality in the UK”

Bringing air pollution into the light: where can you find data about air quality?

You will take about 22,000 breaths today. That equates to an average of about 917 breaths per hour and 15 breaths per minute. For billions of people around the world every breath is exposing their bodies to increasing levels of air pollution, which may cause short term health effects (such as rashes, headaches, asthma attacks) orContinueContinue reading “Bringing air pollution into the light: where can you find data about air quality?”

How can local authorities identify significant sources of air pollution, using freely available data?

This post is written for local authorities in the UK who are interested in identifying the principal source of air pollution in their local area, to support Air Quality Action Plans (AQAP) and Air Quality Strategies. Local authorities are required to manage air quality in their administrative boundaries as part of their responsibilities under PartContinueContinue reading “How can local authorities identify significant sources of air pollution, using freely available data?“