Another visual of the invisible.
Following London’s high pollution levels last week I thought I would compare a new mask to one worn on the commute for around six hours.
It’s pretty clear it’s doing its job, I’m just happy that gunk isn’t in my lungs 🤮
#airpollution #pm25
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Clean Air Where exists to help people understand the air around them.
Because we can’t improve what we can’t see. 🌍
@MayorofLondon
#CleanAirWhere
#IndoorAirQuality
#CleanAir
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Practical ways to reduce exposure:
• spend less time waiting on platforms
• stand back from the platform edge when trains arrive
• choose less crowded carriages
• a well fitting respirator can filter out most PM2.5 particles 😷
@TfL
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A single commute is unlikely to cause harm.
The issue is repeated exposure over many years.
Exposure can vary depending on station design, ventilation, and time spent in the environment.
6
Long term exposure is linked to:
• heart disease and stroke
• chronic lung disease
• reduced lung development in children
• cognitive decline
5
What does that mean for the body?
Short term exposure can cause:
• airway irritation
• coughing or chest tightness
• worsening asthma
• lung inflammation
4
Research from King’s College London (Barratt et al., 2020) found PM2.5 levels on parts of the London Underground can be several times higher than outdoor air.
Much of the dust is metal-rich from braking and rail wear.
Study:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
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In underground systems these particles mainly come from:
• brake wear
• wheel–rail friction
• dust that accumulates in tunnels
2
For context, the WHO guideline for long term average PM2.5 exposure is 5 µg/m³.
PM2.5 are microscopic particles small enough to travel deep into the lungs. Some can even enter the bloodstream.
🧵1
196 PM2.5 inside a London Underground carriage today.
Just moments earlier on the platform it was 80.
Sometimes the air changes dramatically in just a few steps.
#AirPollution #PM25
1/ If I hear one more public official call indoor air filters a "band-aid," I'm going to explode! Filtering indoor air should be as standard as filtering water. Full stop. 🧵
8/ Episodes like this show how air pollution can travel long distances and affect cities far from its original source.
#AirQuality #London #CleanAir
• use kitchen extractor fans when cooking
• use filtration if outdoor pollution remains high
• consider a well-fitting FFP2 or FFP3 mask if you are vulnerable or spending long periods in polluted air 😷
7/ If pollution levels are elevated, it can help to:
• reduce prolonged strenuous outdoor exercise
• ventilate when outdoor levels are lower than indoors
6/ Children, older adults and people with heart or lung conditions tend to be more sensitive.
5/ Fine particles can irritate the lungs and airways. Some people may notice coughing, throat irritation, headaches or worsening asthma symptoms.
4/ These episodes usually last a few days until winds change or rain clears the air. 🌧️
3/ This leads to elevated levels of particulate pollution (PM) and the hazy skies many people have noticed.
2/ Southerly winds are carrying Saharan desert dust and pollution from mainland Europe northwards into the UK. When these air masses arrive and winds are light, particles can accumulate instead of dispersing. 🌫️
🧵 1/ London’s hazy sky this week isn’t just weather. It’s a regional pollution event affecting much of southern England.
Clean air in schools is gaining momentum 🌿
Webinar 11 March, 4pm on improving indoor air for students and staff.
Open to parents, governors, educators and anyone interested in healthier learning spaces.
Register: bit.ly/unisonair
#CleanAir #HealthySchools
Clean Air in Schools: Leaders Making it Happen
11 March, 4pm
Join our webinar, held in partnership with education unions and @crfoundationus.bsky.social, to explore the experiences of schools on their journey to improve indoor air for students and staff.
Register now: bit.ly/unisonair
🚸 New ventilation & air quality guidance for schools & nurseries just published.
Indoor air matters.
We wouldn’t share water bottles. Shared air deserves the same thought.
Clean air belongs in every classroom. 💨🏫
www.gov.uk/government/p...
ICYMI yesterday | Another nail in the coffin of #WoodBurningStoves as evidence of harms piles up. #BanWoodburning www.gov.uk/government/s... and cleanair.london/policy/clean...
💚 Join the #CleanAirCrowd! 💚
We’re bringing people together across the country to take part in a 7-day #AirPollution challenge, from Sat 28th Feb to Fri 6th March.
With one daily action, it couldn't be easier to get involved and share the #CleanAir love!
Sign up now: bit.ly/clean-air-cr...
Breathing in air pollution from wood burning increases your risk of heart and lung disease, asthma, diabetes and dementia.
Even homes with newer “Ecodesign” wood burners are three times more polluted than those without.
This #CleanAirNight, share the facts about wood burning.
This isn’t about blame.
It highlights a training gap and the need to better support staff to apply safeguarding and infection control policies.
Parents and those working in early years, healthcare, or education - I’d welcome your thoughts.
#EarlyYearsWorkforce #Healthcare #Education
Removing an unwell child is not about what has already happened.
It is about preventing further exposure and reducing risk for other children and staff.
#HealthProtection #SafeguardingChildren
The answer sits in concepts that are rarely covered in early years training:
• viral load
• cumulative exposure
• ventilation and air changes
• duration of exposure and risk escalation
#Ventilation #CleanAir #PublicHealth
A question that comes up surprisingly often is:
“Why remove an infectious child when they’ve already been in the room all day?”
#InfectionControl #Childcare
