Press Releases
Free text air pollution warning service for residents (PR 966)
Ealing Council is offering a free text message alert service to residents who may be at risk during periods of high air pollution.
Under the scheme, called airTEXT, anyone suffering from asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, heart disease or angina can register with the Council for alerts to their mobile phone via a text message or to their home phone.
Residents can choose to receive the warnings either the evening before or on the actual morning of days when raised levels of air pollution are forecast.
This means they will be better prepared for any ill-effects they may experience, for example, by choosing to stay indoors, avoiding strenuous exercise, or by having extra doses of inhaler or angina spray to hand.
Because air pollution varies between inner and outer London, participants will be given a choice of which part of London they would like to receive the alert for. So, someone who commutes in to the City may prefer an alert for central London where pollution levels may be worse, rather than one based on their home address.
Councillor Will Brooks, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: “People who live in a big city like London are naturally going to be concerned about the quality of the air they breathe.
“The AirTEXT scheme which we have helped develop gives people with breathing problems and allergies vital information to ensure they stay healthy and safe.”
Ealing Council is jointly running the airTEXT scheme in partnership with other London councils, the Health Protection Agency and the Environment Agency.
Anyone wishing to register should call the Council’s Environmental Quality Team on 020 8825 5313, or go to the airTEXT website at www.airtext.info.