Free pollution alerts in Hertfordshire (From Watford Observer)

Free pollution alerts in Hertfordshire

11:40am Wednesday 19th November 2008

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Thousands of people with breathing difficulties will be able to receive free alerts about local pollution levels from today.

The Herts and Beds Air Quality Network airAlert service has been set up to help the one-in-five people who suffer from asthma, bronchitis or other respiratory problems.

The online, phone, post and text message alerts, the result of a bid for funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, have been launched on World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) day, a day which aims to raise awareness of breathing disorders that kill more than 30,000 people in the UK a year.

By logging on to the airAlert website, residents will be able to view data collected throughout the county and find out whether they need to take extra medication or take other precautions.

Sarah Hoggett, senior environmental health officer for Hertsmere Borough Council, one of 14 districts covered by the service, said the service would be of great help to many vulnerable people.

She said: “We send the data to an office in Kings College and they collate it with data from other authorities. They can then tell what the weather and pollution is going to be like the next day.”

She added: “Here in Hertsmere we don't really have any heavy industry so our pollution is mostly caused by traffic.”

For more information about the airAlert service, telephone 0208 207 2277, visit www.airalert.info or www.hertsbedsair.org.uk. Information and registration forms can also be picked up at the council offices in Elstree Way, Borehamwood or The Bushey Centre, Bushey High Street.

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