Will Toxic Air Warnings Reduce the Damage of Air Pollution?

Air pollution is damaging to the environment and the people and animals that live there. Contaminants in the air can ruin the habitats of animals, as well as causing damage to the animals themselves. It can also lead to various health problems for the people breathing in polluted air. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced a plan for a network of signs across the city to tackle the problem.

Illegal levels

The biggest problem in London comes from the traffic. The car engines release a harmful pollutant, nitrogen dioxide. Its effects on humans include an increased risk of respiratory diseases like lung cancer and asthma. Nitrogen dioxide can also cause inflammation of the lungs. This is particularly dangerous in children as it stunts the growth of their respiratory organs, giving them smaller lungs in adulthood.

It’s thought that London may have the biggest acute problem with the harmful gas in the world. The levels of nitrogen dioxide in the capital are actually illegal, and it doesn’t look set to improve. With the government’s plans to solve the issue taking until 2025, people could be breathing in highly polluted air for another decade.

What is the plan and will it work?

The new Mayor of London, who replaced Boris Johnson in May 2016, has introduced a warning system with electronic update signs across London’s transport network:

• All 270 stations of the tube network
• 2,500 bus countdown signs
• 140 signs on the side of the busiest roads
• Several river pier signs

The signs will display alerts when the air pollution gets to ‘high’ or ‘very high’ levels, which on average has been happening 4-5 times a year. The idea is to warn people to avoid the main areas of air pollution and also advise of ways to cut down emissions. The changes come after around 80% of people said they would like to know when pollution is high so they can make changes.

Air pollution from industrial plants

In areas outside of London, air pollution from factories is a big concern. One issue is narrow thinking on the issue. A ‘one size fits all’ system is not the answer. ‘Flexibility is Key to Solving Air Pollution Abatement Challenges’ explains how plans can be formulated specific to plants. It would improve the efficiency of air pollution reduction. By calculating exhaust flow rate, the concentration of pollutants and operating hours, a more appropriate pollution control system can be formed and put in place.