Air pollution

Air Text forecast

airTEXT works by sending alerts and health advice to those people who are most likely to be affected on days when air pollution is elevated in their area.

Advance warning of higher pollution levels allows individuals to take precautionary measures such as remaining indoors, avoiding excessive exercise or carrying their reliever medication with them. Under the scheme, people can sign-up to receive local air pollution alerts by mobile phone text message, voicemail or email. People in need of the service can register for the alerts online at www.airtext.info or by calling the airTEXT co-ordinators on 020 8760 5483.

Separate forecasts are generated for each London borough that allow residents to select which part of London they wish to receive alerts for. Individuals can also choose whether they prefer to receive the warning on the evening before or the morning of a predicted high air pollution day. A pilot scheme, the first of it’s kind in the world, has operated in Croydon since July 2005 and has received a positive response.

Information about air quality is widely available throughout the European Union but has never been targeted in a timely and proactive way at vulnerable individuals. The forecasting system has been under development by scientists at Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants (CERC) since 1999 and the airTEXT project was developed by Croydon Council. Westminster City Council  is supporting this initiative along with most other London boroughs.