You may have seen us (Beeston Extinction Rebellion) standing on Beeston High Street talking to passers-by about air pollution.
We’ve been scanning your post codes to find out the air pollution levels where you live and then placing a sticker on our map of Beeston to compare the levels of air pollution in our community. So far, we’ve recorded levels of between 74 and 93, all of which fall into the high-risk category.
The burning of fossil fuels and the incineration of household waste releases toxic particles that impact our health and contribute to climate change. It is a major public health issue, especially for children and older people.
In children, air pollution can affect lung growth and function, cause respiratory infections and aggravate asthma. In adults it can cause heart disease, stroke and promote cancer as well as lung conditions.
In Broxtowe, the main pollutants are nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter from vehicle exhausts and domestic heating (gas boilers, coal fires and wood burners). Broxtowe Borough Council reported 90 adult deaths in 2020 as a result of air pollution.
So how can we help? We can all take action to improve the air quality around us by reducing our car usage (especially around schools), using public transport, cycling and walking if possible, planting trees and lobbying for government policy change.
If you want to have a look at your own air pollution levels, you can do this yourself at addresspollution.org
Written on behalf of Beeston Extinction Rebellion