Public health Air Quality

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Coal fired power station on the Thames including Battersea (image) and Barking power stations see urban redevelopment

Great Smog of London 1952, lead to the creation of the clean air act banning burning coal in homes and Power Station in London. including recently redeveloped Battersea and Barking Power stations.

The Clean air act and low vehicle emissions restrictions were brought in to force to protect  workers who spend long periods at road side including public, police and traffic wardens.

later leaded petrol was banned in 1999 though 22 years after the ban lead from petrol can still be found in Londons air according imperial college London..

Daresbury labs discovered the harmful particulates in vehicle exhaust emotions.

Kings college university hospital ran the air pollution monitoring network and app alerting the public to high levels of harmful particulates from road traffic close to monitoring stations. Those affected by bad air quality to avoid the areas.

Leading to restrictions on engine types entering parts of London the ULEZ ultra low emissions zone.

Transport accounts for around 30% of global carbon emissions 72% of these emissions come from road transportation,(see Digital engineering)

The turbines stopped spinning for good this year as the UK meets its pledge to ban coal use. Closer of the UK's last coal-fired power station at Ratcliffe-on-Soar, and marking the 'End of the first Industrial Revolution'.

after 142 years and advances in wind and solar power, Ahead of other G7 economies on Sept 30, 2024 Britain become the first major developed country to quit coal to generate electricity.

Summary Report Link

I was Influenced by British Land artists the Boil family and Richard long,

In 1992 i created statement sculptural pieces to raise awareness on the lead poisoning of the Forrest’s of Europe and acid rain over time damaging buildings, turned cross sections of the core of felled trees from the Forrest into charcoal and casting a vain ring of lead into the space left between the outer wood and inner charcoal.

Later leaded petrol was banned in 1999, though 22 years after the ban on leaded petrol, lead from petrol can still be found in Londons air according imperial college London.. The harmful impact lead has on the brain and lungs of small children.

“Mayor Sadiq Khan’s London-wide Ulez expansion resulted in a “better than expected” reduction in toxic exhaust emissions from cars and vans, City Hall report suggests about five million more Londoners are now breathing cleaner air. London Evening standard July 2024

Schoolchildren living in London's ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) were nearly four times as likely to switch to walking and cycling after its introduction compared with those outside the zone, new research suggests. BBC  5th sept 2024

Ultra Low Emotions Zone Map

ULEZ was first introduced in April 2019 and was expanded on 29 August 2023 With a £12.50 fine for those entering the zone with a vehicle that doesn’t comply.

Read more air quality Link

Image credit yahoo news

Brixton Road in South London was found to have breached its annual air pollution limit for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in just the first five days of 2017.

Living in a City with a well developed and maintained public transport system, and the high depreciation, fuel and maintaining costs of running a vehicle, lived happily car free for decades.

The stereotype of the Chelsea tractor, the derogatory term used to describe the tendency of the London middle classes to use 4x4 vehicles for the school run, is based on reality, according to new figures. showing that 75% of SUVS were bought by people living in towns and cities guardian April  2021 Link

Seeing the sight of middle aged man single-occupancy vehicle (SOV) leaving his 3 liter 4×4 engine SUV running as it pumped out harmful petrol fumes into a small fruit shop with a young Girl in her best dress breathing the fumes.

the majority of vehicles which pollute the streets of Trinidad are privately owned small buses, maxi and H hire cars constantly on the road, measures to restrict there emotions or engine type world show the biggest improvement on air quality

 

I remember the old oak trees before the hurricane took them down, what I learned volunteering with the trust for urban ecology, replanting new trees absorb twice as much CO2 and release Oxygen than older trees, and the those tree at the front stand are stronger from growing with exposure to gales than those behind that grow sheltered. Improving the air quality for the local population for free.

Do not disturb Hedgehog hibernating in urban garden, conditions right real Hedgehog slow moving often road casualty

increased use of electric vehicles before the pandemic nature was returning to urban environments the pandemic lockdown less car use saw nature returning to urban environments globally, Think about unnecessarily car use.

at a community healthcare event at a primary school monitored breathing and discussing roadside emissions A small primary school child walked up to me and handed me a leaflet on road safety see MedicalTech Head injuries

During Pandemic Asthma Call on air quality in schools near busy roads: Advised them Paediatricians first look around a child's airways for signs of Glitter and Sand in case it has been inhaled, during play at school which can trigger breathing difficulties.

My daughter was in and out of hospital, when she was a toddler visited by players of the local football team while in the children’s ward at Christmas, as a concerned parent you become a somewhat of an expert, highlighting the prescribing of medication to children which hasn’t been used in decades to hospital. Asthma Action plan for children Asthma UK + Lung Link

Philip Morris International (PMI) cigarettes maker has sold a UK inhaler company for a knock-down price due to what it calls an "unwarranted" backlash. PMI's decision to buy Vectura, which makes inhalers to treat lung conditions such as asthma, was criticised as being hypocritical

offloaded Vectura Group for £150m ($198m) just three years after buying it in a deal worth more than £1bn. See public health smoking ban.

And help protect historic buildings for the effects of vehicle pollution.

Historic buildings used materials and fireplaces which breathed and ventilated buildings, Modern buildings and materials seal-in layers, combined with central heating system can dry the air causing dry throats and throat infections, having a small cup of water under radiators can reduce this

Advice to Asthma sufferers: Rinsing the mouth with water after using a Asthma inhaler, to help reduce the risk of the steroid it contains leading to throat, then chest infections and pneumonia.

UN data shows in US healthcare only one in 25 medical prescriptions work first time treating symptoms, as the doctor attempting to identify and treat the root cause highlighting the importance of having follow up tests to find what’s works for the patient

NEST home hub, zoned heating and humidity control and monitoring solar pales providing electricity and feeding into to national grid the excess power generated

Environment protection agency EPA recommend Keeping indoor humidity between 30 and 50 percent experts recommend maintaining a temperature within the range of 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, or 20 to 22 degrees Celsius. HEPA high efficiency particulate air [filter] changed 6 month - annually

Weather station monitoring home and local  outside conditions to dress well I.e. morning Sunny 0°C outside and short term likelihood of rain.

Modern home Ventilation systems are often not installed correctly or managed by home owners, I.e the leading British double glassing company provided training, drizzle vents are designed to manage condensation, are often installed incorrectly, blocked over time or closed for heating, this can cause condensation and mold to develop.

Central heating systems can dry the air in modern buildings causing coughs placing a small cup of water under radiators can relieve this.

 

Recollect the South Bank Uni was also some way involved into research into the cause of legionaries disease a serious type of pneumonia (lung infection) caused by Legionella (LEE-juh-nell-a) bacteria. being from water vapour from cooling systems from office air conditioning, and have always avoided badly maintained office blocks and hotels where outbreaks can accrue. Linked to hospitality and tourism research.

Instead of just treating the health issue look at illustrating the causes and preventing them.

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