The public should be made more aware of the problem of poor air quality by having pollution warnings directed at them to encourage them to take action.
A new study revealed that Londoners can find out about air pollution by looking at 54 different systems, including real-time maps, apps, bus stops, and webpages.
However, Oxford University’s Kayla B Schulte, who led the research, told The Guardian: “If people are seeking air quality information associated with their exact physical location, most services are incapable of providing it.”
Additionally, professor Sir Stephen Holgate from the University of Southampton said while more people are becoming aware of the impact and problem of air pollution, they are unsure what they can do about it.
“Any new air quality information system needs to be based on what people are exposed to in their localities, including real-time variations,” he told the publication.
Messages also tend to be focused on those who are most affected by air pollution, such as the elderly, suggesting that it is their responsibility to do something about the issue, instead of a wider public problem.
This comes after the National Audit Office (NAO) revealed existing policies to control air pollution are not effective enough to reach the government’s air quality goals by the end of the decade.
Head of the NAO Gareth Davies said the government will need to “develop robust solutions quickly” if it wants to meet its targets by 2030.
The UK has exceeded its legal limit for nitrogen dioxide in the air since 2010, despite air pollution being in decline for the last few decades.
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