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@cleanairie.bsky.social

Have you ever wondered how ventilated a bus on your morning commute is? Or how well ventilated children's classrooms are?

Thanks to the teacher who shared this data with us from their morning commute and first class of the morning, we can see how poorly ventilated these spaces are in Ireland.

Screenshot of airspot CO2 monitor app showing high CO2 ppm through the night rising from a base of 1800ppm to a peak of 3809ppm. Dropping down to 1200 ppm and rising back up to 2800 ppm.

Screenshot of airspot CO2 monitor app showing high CO2 ppm through the night rising from a base of 1000ppm in the classroom to a peak of 2800 ppm before going down to 2210.

December 5, 2025 at 11:06 AM

Clean Air Advocacy Ireland

@cleanairie.bsky.social

Look what's new on the HSE website!

This is a very welcome development, and a very useful resource provided by the HSE. Follow the link to see more detailed advice and recommendations.

healthservice.hse.ie/staff/health...

#CleanTheAir

Screenshot of Indoor air quality page on the HSE's website. Full text available here: https://healthservice.hse.ie/staff/health-and-safety/indoor-air-quality/

December 2, 2025 at 5:12 PM

Clean Air Advocacy Ireland

@cleanairie.bsky.social

Flu is spreading earlier than last year, with children heavily impacted.
We call on the Minister for Education and the HSE to update public health advice to schools to account for airborne transmission of flu.

Press release is available here: www.cleanairadvocacyireland.org/clean-air-bl...

PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ISSUED 30/11/2025

Urgent Action Needed to Quell Spread of Flu in Schools

Flu is spreading earlier than last year, with children heavily impacted.
Public health advice to schools should be updated to account for airborne transmission of flu.

Clean Air Advocacy Ireland (CAAI) has written to Dr Abigail Collins, the HSE’s clinical lead on child public health, and to Hildegarde Naughton, the Minister for Education and Youth, to ask that public health advice to schools be urgently updated to reduce the spread of the current flu wave.

The appeal comes in the wake of a warning last week from Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) that its emergency departments and urgent care centres had witnessed a surge in presentations of children with flu-like symptoms.

Full text available here:
https://www.cleanairadvocacyireland.org/clean-air-blog/fh3sa8yzo73ra7sn4gitahml3pm9zc-plssg

In addition to advising parents to keep symptomatic children at home, CAAI wants schools to be properly informed about how to reduce the spread of common airborne illnesses, including flu, RSV, and Covid-19. This advice includes:

Keeping classrooms well ventilated

Using air filters in classrooms.

Using CO2 monitors to measure indoor air quality. CO2 levels should be kept below 800ppm.

“Flu has hit Ireland almost a month earlier than last year,” says Kieran Ryan of CAAI,” and we know that school-acquired infections can lead to flu spreading in the wider community, with children bringing an infection home to their siblings, parents, and older relatives.”

“It would be prudent to issue updated public health advice to schools immediately to try to reduce transmission of flu, or else we can expect a severe flu season that will have a major impact across schools, hospitals, and other parts of our society.”

November 30, 2025 at 9:36 PM

Clean Air Advocacy Ireland

@cleanairie.bsky.social

Have you ever wondered how high CO2 can rise in a room as you sleep?

Thanks to this submission from an individual who monitored their child's bedroom last week, we have some insight.

#FridayAirday

Screenshot of CO2 monitor readings over a 4 day period showing peaks of 1997 ppm at night and lows of 471 ppm in the morning/daytime.

November 28, 2025 at 5:43 PM

Clean Air Advocacy Ireland

@cleanairie.bsky.social

It's that time of the week again! #FridayAirday

Pale text on blue background: "Share your air with us using #FridayAirday Let's clean our air.

November 28, 2025 at 10:34 AM

Clean Air Advocacy Ireland

@cleanairie.bsky.social

Funding to improve and upgrade ventilation and air filtration across schools and healthcare settings in Ireland must be allocated as a matter of urgency.

#CleanTheAir

www.farmersjournal.ie/life/health/...

Screenshot of text from Irish Farmer's Journal article available at: https://www.farmersjournal.ie/life/health/my-life-has-been-shattered-by-long-covid-891876

November 27, 2025 at 10:25 PM

Clean Air Advocacy Ireland

@cleanairie.bsky.social

Thanks to The Irish Farmer's Journal & @rosalindskillen.bsky.social for giving voice to the plight of people living with Long Covid. We owe enormous thanks to @LCAIreland.bsky.social and the brave people struggling with this disease who have shared their stories to warn us of the risks of COVID-19.

Screenshot from the Irish Farmer's Journal - image of a woman coughing into her elbow, holding a thermometer in one hand. Screenshot taken from Article titled 'My life has been shattered by long COVID'. Available at https://www.farmersjournal.ie/life/health/my-life-has-been-shattered-by-long-covid-891876

November 27, 2025 at 10:25 PM

Clean Air Advocacy Ireland

@cleanairie.bsky.social

@UCC.ie is leading the way in Ireland by launching the very first Air Quality Monitor Lending Program in the country. Students and staff at UCC can now borrow a Qingping Pro 2 Air Monitor to assess their environments.

Further details available here: libcal.ucc.ie/equipment/it...

Pale text on blue background: Did you know? UCC is first in Ireland to start an Air Quality Monitor Lending Program

November 27, 2025 at 8:34 AM

Clean Air Advocacy Ireland

@cleanairie.bsky.social

We have taken our indoor air quality for granted for too long, despite spending 90% of our time indoors. Removing pollutants from our environments through air purification and reducing consumption is key, as ventilation can't eliminate exposure to these ultra fine particles completely. #CleanTheAir

Pale text on blue background: Jianghui Liu et. al, ‘Indoor Nanoparticle Emissions and Exposures during Heat-Based Hair Styling Activities’, Environmental Science & Technology 2025 59 (32)- is the first study to have discovered what is happening during the process of application of a haircare product.

November 22, 2025 at 8:47 AM

Clean Air Advocacy Ireland

@cleanairie.bsky.social

A fascinating study recently published in the journal 'Environmental Science & Technology' has found that routine hair styling causes air pollution and exposure to ultra fine particles in concentrations that rivals sitting in heavy traffic.

#CleanTheAir

www.sciencefriday.com/segments/ind...

Pale text on blue background: Did you know? Routine hair-based styling can release billions of nanoparticle into the air within a 10 to 20 minute routine. The particle are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs. Lets Clean Our Air
www.cleanairadvocacyireland.org

Pale text on blue background: Applying heat to gels, creams, hair sprays, oils (any type of leave in hair product) - releases 10,000 to 200,000 nanoparticles per cubic centimetre.

Pale text on blue background: The closed proximity and confinement from a single hair treatment session gives airborne nanoparticles a more direct pathway into the lungs, rivalling exposure from sitting in heavy traffic.

Pale text on blue background: Particles released during heat styling come from chemical ingredients, particularly siloxanes. These have been found to lead to adverse effects on the respiratory tract, liver, and nervous system of laboratory animals.

November 22, 2025 at 8:47 AM

Clean Air Advocacy Ireland

@cleanairie.bsky.social

A lucky @aranethome.bsky.social owner in Ireland shared this excellent CO2 reading from their bedroom, which has been unoccupied all day. This is ideal for a good night's sleep! #FridayAirday

Aranet 4 CO2 monitor showing 581ppm and temperature of 15.4⁰C

November 21, 2025 at 10:28 PM

Clean Air Advocacy Ireland

@cleanairie.bsky.social

This is a reminder that tomorrow is #FridayAirday! Help us create awareness of the importance of indoor/outdoor air quality by capturing an image of your CO2 monitor in whatever contexts you want to share. #CleanTheAir

picture of an airspot CO2 monitor watch on a wrist with trees in the background. The monitor shows a CO2 reading of 554ppm.

November 20, 2025 at 3:31 PM

Clean Air Advocacy Ireland

@cleanairie.bsky.social

We thought it would be fun to run a campaign to share your air quality readings using #FridayAirday on Fridays! Help us create awareness of the importance of indoor/outdoor air quality by capturing an image of your CO2 monitor in whatever contexts you want to share. Some examples below. #CleanTheAir

November 13, 2025 at 9:28 PM

Clean Air Advocacy Ireland

@cleanairie.bsky.social

We thought it would be fun to start a campaign to share your air quality measurements using #FridayAirday on Fridays! Help us create awareness of the importance of indoor and outdoor air quality by capturing an image of your CO2 monitor in whatever contexts you want to share.

#CleanTheAir

November 13, 2025 at 7:30 PM

Clean Air Advocacy Ireland

@cleanairie.bsky.social

We thought it would be fun to run a campaign to share your air quality readings using #FridayAirday on Fridays! Help us create awareness of the importance of indoor/outdoor air quality by capturing an image of your CO2 monitor in whatever contexts you want to share. Some examples below. #CleanTheAir

Screenshot of Airspot CO2 monitor readings show peaks of 2322ppm at a conference

Airspot CO2 monitor reading showing readings ~ 800ppm in a workplace setting with open windows and hepa

Airspot CO2 monitor readings showing readings of ~1100 ppm while cooking dinner.

November 13, 2025 at 8:39 AM

Clean Air Advocacy Ireland

@cleanairie.bsky.social

Ireland remains among a small number of EU Member States that have not formally recognised Covid-19 as an occupational disease or injury, contrary to recommendations from the European Commission and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

#CleanTheAir

November 13, 2025 at 8:18 AM

Clean Air Advocacy Ireland

@cleanairie.bsky.social

Sharing her experience is an effort to raise awareness of a growing health condition that is affecting more people as covid continues to spread. This stark warning should not have to come from a victim of this disease. Lydia is doing the work that public health services should be doing.

November 10, 2025 at 11:14 AM

Clean Air Advocacy Ireland

@cleanairie.bsky.social

This #WorldVentil8Day reminds us that the air we breathe is a shared resource, and the fight for healthy air for all is a collaborative effort. Air doesn't discriminate, but too often building standards do. We must act for vulnerable people who can't advocate for improved ventilation by themselves.

November 8, 2025 at 10:09 AM

Clean Air Advocacy Ireland

@cleanairie.bsky.social

COVID-19 remains unrecognised as an occupational illness in Ireland. The argument is that it's too difficult to prove an infection source, as COVID-19 is so pervasive in our communities. This is an admission of failure and not a justifiable excuse. #cleantheair #cleanairforall

Blue text on pale blue background: Did you know? COVID-19 is still not recognised as an occupational illness in Ireland

Let's clean our air

November 3, 2025 at 10:33 AM

Clean Air Advocacy Ireland

@cleanairie.bsky.social

The Mayor of London's rollout of HEPA filters in classrooms to improve air quality for children in schools shows real vision, leadership, and concern for children's health and wellbeing. Hopefully, it isn't long before Irish politicians recognise the numerous benefits of this policy.
#cleantheair

Mayor of London invests £2.7m in air quality filters for schools to clean up air in classrooms

Research has found that PM2.5 levels in classrooms with HEPA filters were between 27 and 68 per cent lower compared to those without.

Air pollution increases the risk of developing asthma, lung cancer, heart disease and stroke, and there is growing evidence that air pollution exposure increases the risk of developing dementia.

"I want every single child to breathe clean air in and around their school. In those vital early years, the difference this can make to young people’s health and wellbeing can be lifechanging. " - The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan

November 2, 2025 at 8:32 AM

Clean Air Advocacy Ireland

@cleanairie.bsky.social

Break the Irish tradition of keeping windows shut so as not to let the heat out, think of the ghosts! Crack open the windows to get some nice cross ventilation going and exorcise your home of all the indoor pollutants while you're at it! #oícheshamhna #happyhalloween #cleantheair #cleanairforall

An image with dark background and picture of a ghost and vampire behind a window frame. Text reads: Oíche Shamhna Ghosts and ghouls might not be all that plagues you today... Open your windows and clean the air lest ye be haunted by an ill wind!

October 31, 2025 at 11:09 AM

Clean Air Advocacy Ireland

@cleanairie.bsky.social

In addition to outdoor air pollution penetrating indoors, we also face indoor sources of air pollution. Frequently referenced estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency say indoor levels of some contaminants can be three to five times higher than outdoors.