In recent months, the pupils of Radcliffe on Trent Junior School have expressed a concern about air pollution and in particular one specific issue very close to their school.
The school’s Eco Committee looked into the matter in more detail and walked out onto Cropwell Road at school pick up time. They found that there were multiple buses and cars idling whilst they waited for their children.
The Eco Committee prepared and delivered an assembly to the rest of the school, outlining some of the facts around air pollution and the effects that idling cars can have on the environment and individuals health.
These facts included:
- A car produces 150 balloons of air pollution every minute.
- A child breathes in 50% more air for their size and so inhale more pollution than adults.
- There are 40,000 deaths per year linked to Air Pollution in the UK.
- Exposure to air pollution can cause asthma, lung disease, heart problems, dementia, diabetes and can lead to issues with bones and pregnancies.
- A stationary car produces twice as much air pollution as a moving car.
- There is twice as much pollution inside your car as there is outside.
After the assembly, the eco committee then launched a poster competition to the entire school and the Parish Council gave prizes to the winning six entries.
These posters are now being displayed in the village.