Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Mums for Lungs @mumsforlungs.bsky.social · 2h

We love this idea - people in #Leeds are to trial a "Car When We Need It" initiative, sharing access to both private and hire cars.

"The study seeks to create practical, low-carbon alternatives to car ownership - such as car clubs, responsive bus services, and shared micromobility options."

Leeds project explores car access without ownership

Families, friends and neighbours across Leeds are being encouraged to collaborate in a unique three-week experiment exploring new ways to access cars without owning them. The “Car When We Need It” in...

airqualitynews.com

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Reposted by Mums for Lungs

Clean Air Fund @cleanairfund.bsky.social · 9h

📢 NEW: Governments continue to funnel billions into fossil fuel-prolonging projects - while clean air gets just 1% of #GlobalDev finance.

Explore the findings of our report, The State of Global Air Quality Funding 2025, out today 👉 bit.ly/4gXEAjm

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Reposted by Mums for Lungs

Safe Air Schools UK @safeairschoolsuk.bsky.social · 7h

October is National Indoor Air Quality Awareness Month!

Who will join Safe Air Schools UK in signing the Global Pledge and join #AirClub?

🔗 airclub.org

#UnitedNations #GlobalAction
#CovidInquiry
@georgemonbiot.bsky.social

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Mums for Lungs @mumsforlungs.bsky.social · 6h

Thanks for sharing.

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Mums for Lungs @mumsforlungs.bsky.social · 8h

Worried about wood burning? Join us in putting up posters in your area to help inform people about the #AirPollution impacts of burning.

#WoodBurning is still a vastly underestimated and misunderstood source of pollution.

Order your free posters here: bit.ly/wbposterform

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Mums for Lungs @mumsforlungs.bsky.social · 1d

Great to see strong support for these five #SchoolStreets in #Oxfordshire, and that @oxfordshirecc.bsky.social propose to make them permanent. 👍

Traffic ban outside schools in Oxford and Didcot set to become permanent

The school streets scheme for four schools in Oxford and one in Didcot is set to be made permanent next week.

uk.news.yahoo.com

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Mums for Lungs @mumsforlungs.bsky.social · 2d

Over 24,000 children in Birmingham are living with #Asthma. The Clean Air Zone has reduced #AirPollution by 17%, but the toxic air in #Birmingham is still having a "devastating impact" on communities.

Mum says 'just don't' as she warns parents of three problems on school run

Chelmsley Wood mum opens up on her son's health issues as she urged parents to be aware of 'toxic air' amid struggles walking to school

uk.news.yahoo.com

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Reposted by Mums for Lungs

Oxfordshire County Council @oxfordshirecc.bsky.social · 13d

Don’t forget to share your thoughts on active travel proposals to trial school streets in Banbury, Carterton, Didcot, and extend Sandhills school street in Oxford.

Survey closes 13 October. See more and have your say: letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/oxfordshire-...

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Mums for Lungs @mumsforlungs.bsky.social · 2d

Absolutely fascinating research from Professor Jonathan Grigg and Dr Norrice Liu at @qmul.bsky.social on the mechanism that PM2.5 uses to get around our body and find its way into our organs. Well worth a read. #AirPollution #Health

PM2.5 hitches a lift on red blood cells to spread through the body

Scientists have discovered the first direct evidence that PM2.5 particles attach themselves to red blood cells, providing a mechanism for how they spread throughout the human body. The breakthrough re...

airqualitynews.com

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Mums for Lungs @mumsforlungs.bsky.social · 5d

People are living longer, and this is something to be celebrated! But research shows that #AirPollution increases the likelihood of people becoming frail in middle and old age. "Ensuring cleaner air, clean household energy, & smoke-free environments, especially in highly exposed communities is key".

Frailty in ageing populations worsened by air pollution, global review finds

Coauthor of research says condition linked to heightened vulnerability and loss of independence – but is reversible

www.theguardian.com

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Mums for Lungs @mumsforlungs.bsky.social · 5d

If you're a councillor or a council officer, please come along to our #SchoolStreets webinar, two weeks today! We will share insights and practical steps on how to deliver School Streets effectively.

Sign up below to join us on Friday, 17th October at 12pm.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mums-for-l...

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Reposted by Mums for Lungs

Healthy Air Coalition UK @healthyairuk.bsky.social · 5d

Liz from @mumsforlungs.bsky.social reminded us that Manchester is the most polluted city in the UK, with a recent 33% increase in babies and toddlers admitted to hospital with breathing issues. Political leadership and School Streets needed in Manchester and across UK. 🚸
@lizgdfy.bsky.social #LPC25

Liz Godfrey sits on a stage next to the Chair and other panellists, and speaks into a microphone.

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Mums for Lungs @mumsforlungs.bsky.social · 6d

Our #Dieselgate petition is growing. Let's get this even higher, before the trial begins on October 13th. Have you signed yet? #AirPollution #DitchDiesel

Make polluters pay for poisoning our children

10 years ago it was revealed that many diesel cars were being fitted with illegal technology that means they emit levels of toxic gases (NOx) exceeding testing and legal limits. These emissions poison...

you.38degrees.org.uk

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Reposted by Mums for Lungs

Kirsten de Vos 🚶🏻‍♀️💚🚲🍃 @kirstendevos.bsky.social · 7d

Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone has cut pollution by 17% 👏 but parts of the city still break legal limits.

Khan’s steadfast push on ULEZ shows real political courage. Time Brum’s leaders showed the same boldness to deliver truly clean air. 🌍🚶🏻‍♀️🧑🏽‍🦽🚲🚌
@betterstreetsforbirmingham.org

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 7d

184 years earlier than predicted, London has met the legal limits for toxic NO2 for the first time.

This historic milestone proves that bold action like expanding ULEZ works, protecting children’s health and giving millions cleaner air to breathe.

London Ulez reduced nitrogen dioxide to legal limit, mayor says

The mayor of London says the fall in airborne toxins is due to the Ultra low emission zone expansion.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Mums for Lungs

Healthy Air Coalition UK @healthyairuk.bsky.social · 6d

We are very pleased that work to tackle toxic air in London meant the Capital met legal air pollution limits for the first time in 2024! ☁️

This is a Londonwide average. More to do for areas like Brixton and Lewisham to comply. But there's no doubt this news will improve Londoners' health ❤️

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 7d

NEW: London has achieved the historic milestone of meeting the legal limits for nitrogen dioxide for the first time in 2024 - 184 years earlier than experts predicted.

Blue sky with clouds and text reading “Mayor of London. Great news. London has met legal air quality limits 184 years earlier than predicted.”

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Reposted by Mums for Lungs

chloelewis.bsky.social @chloelewis.bsky.social · 7d

Well, my sister's family moved out of London + she doesn't need an inhaler at all any more which I think speaks volumes. But, as you say, why should children living anywhere have to endure such a terrifying experience because of pollution that's completely preventable?

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Reposted by Mums for Lungs

Impact on Urban Health @impurbanhealth.bsky.social · 7d

Since legal limits for NO2 were set, guidelines for air pollution have changed.

People in London are still breathing levels of air pollution which surpasses @who.int guidelines. The Mayor must be emboldened to go further to improve air quality.
urbanhealth.org.uk/insights/opi...

Improving air quality must be central to Labour’s health mission

Action would help to save money and reduce social inequalities. Matt Towner writes for New Statesman.

urbanhealth.org.uk

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Reposted by Mums for Lungs

Cleanair2breathe (AirFairy04) @cleanair2breathe.bsky.social · 7d

Thank you @thismorningitv.bsky.social for highlighting the serious dangers of woodburning stoves on health

#AirPollution #WoodBurning #WoodBurningStoves #Health #Lungs

www.ersnet.org/news-and-fea...

Indoor wood burners linked to a decline in lung function

Using a wood burning stove at home can lead to a decline in lung function, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

www.ersnet.org

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Mums for Lungs @mumsforlungs.bsky.social · 7d

Absolutely. Sorry to hear about your niece. Annual averages and statistics are all well and good, but the real picture on the ground can be very different.

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Mums for Lungs @mumsforlungs.bsky.social · 7d

So what is the real picture?

👉 NO2 legal limits should have been met across the UK in 2010
👉 On-the-ground monitoring still shows non-compliance in London, despite DEFRA saying London complies
👉 UK legal limits are 4 times as high as WHO recommend
👉 Government needs to act to reduce #AirPollution

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Mums for Lungs @mumsforlungs.bsky.social · 7d

The EU is forging ahead, with tighter NO2 limits set last year, aiming to meet 20ug/m3 NO2 by 2030. That’s half the UK legal limit!

We are lagging behind our neighbours, and our children’s lungs are bearing the brunt. We need the Government to commit to reaching the WHO #AirPollution guidelines.

New pollution rules come into effect for cleaner air by 2030

The revised Ambient Air Quality Directive comes with a series of new measures and stricter standards to ensure that people enjoy cleaner air in the coming years.

environment.ec.europa.eu

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Mums for Lungs @mumsforlungs.bsky.social · 7d

What about the rest of the country? The #WestMidlands, #GreaterManchester, #Liverpool, #Bristol & #Coventry/Bedworth are still exceeding these UK limits. When will we see acknowledgement of this, and strong action to tackle it? A generation has grown up breathing #ToxicAir, with no end in sight.

A table from the DEFRA Air Pollution 2024 report, showing areas across England which are compliant with UK legal limits for NO2, and those that are not.

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Mums for Lungs @mumsforlungs.bsky.social · 7d

London’s #AirPollution has dropped significantly over the last few years; thank you @london.gov.uk!

BUT - at least two monitors are NOT meeting the NO2 annual average (technicalities). The #Brixton & #Lewisham monitors still show exceedances. (See image, from the London Air website).

A map of London showing the air pollution monitoring system. Green ticks indicate the monitors that met UK legal limits in 2024. Two red crosses indicate exceedances in 2024.

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Mums for Lungs @mumsforlungs.bsky.social · 7d

A DEFRA report suggests London is now finally compliant with UK legal #AirPollution limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

DEFRA reports that last year, London complied with the UK’s annual average legal limit of 40ug/m3 for NO2, 15 years after it should have.
uk-air.defra.gov.uk/library/annu...

The front page of a DEFRA report. White background, with the top half of an image of London's skyline visible. The title of the report is Air Pollution in the UK 2024.

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Mums for Lungs @mumsforlungs.bsky.social · 7d

And yet...the job is not done. The UK needs to at least match the EU’s commitment to reach 20ug/m3 NO2 by 2030, and keep on going. The #Health evidence has moved on, and next steps are missing from both the Government and @london.gov.uk. Where is the vision for the future #Health of our children?

A child stands in front of the Brixton Road air pollution monitor. A chalked stencil on the ground says "Illegal air pollution recorded here".

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