Particulate Matters - October | The loophole hiding air pollution from 21 million people ??

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Welcome back to Particulate Matters.

In this edition, we’re covering:?

• Do we need more research and regulation on indoor air quality?
• Is the current strategy for monitoring air pollution working in the UK?
• How is a loophole hiding the true levels of pollution for millions of Americans?

Noteworthy news ??

??New report calls for more research and regulation on UK indoor air quality

A new document produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) has outlined how we can take a ‘joined-up approach’ to improve indoor air quality in the UK.

According to the briefing, the development of indoor air quality legislation is currently hampered by a lack of funding and limited scientific evidence. The authors have called for more research to address knowledge gaps and improve public awareness.

You can read the full briefing on indoor air quality here.

???? New article assesses the UK’s approach to monitoring outdoor air quality

A recent BBC article has explored whether the UK’s current air pollution monitoring strategy is fit for purpose.

Experts highlight that the systems used have not developed much over the last 30 years, and that the quality of air pollution monitoring differs significantly across the country.

Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of Asthma + Lung UK, explains: "The government needs to work with every local authority across the country to ensure all communities have access to a network of monitors, prioritising cities, pollution hotspots, and places frequented by vulnerable groups, like schools, hospitals and care homes."

?? Revealed: how a little-known pollution rule keeps the air dirty for millions of Americans

A legal loophole has allowed the US Environmental Protection Agency to strike pollution from clean air tallies in more than 70 counties, enabling local regulators to claim the air was cleaner than it really was for more than 21 million Americans.

Regulators have exploited a little-known provision in the Clean Air Act called the “‘exceptional events rule’” to forgive pollution caused by “‘natural’” or “‘uncontrollable’” events – including wildfires – on records used by the EPA for regulatory decisions.

Find out more about the investigation into the loophole from the California Newsroom, MuckRock and the Guardian here .

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A positive spin on air pollution

We’re conscious that a lot of the air pollution news we share in our monthly newsletter isn’t particularly positive. However, it’s clear to see that there have been major strides over recent decades to improve air quality across Europe. Find out more in this recent LinkedIn post from our CEO, Francesca Brady.

AirRated views

Did you know that only 26% of office decision makers are currently committed to monitoring indoor air quality (IAQ) in the workplace? And that over 80% of employees believe that IAQ monitoring should be mandatory?

That’s a pretty sizable difference, and potentially a big problem for organisations who don’t take monitoring seriously. Especially as research from Fellowes suggested that only 29% of office workers believe the air in their office is very clean!

We explore some of the reasons why this is the case and how you can overcome the typical challenges with creating a healthy working environment. Read more

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We hope you've enjoyed this month’s edition of Particulate Matters.

If you want to get involved in future air quality content, get in touch with the team at [email protected] – we'd love to hear from you.

Thanks,

The AirRated team