Ben Pearce

Did lead poisoning help create a generation of serial killers? – podcast Pulitzer prize-winning author Caroline Fraser on the link between air pollution in the US and male violence

www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2...

Dele, Dier, Sarr, Udogie, Bergvall worked out well

Our air, our voices: Co-creating clean air policy with young Londoners We’re proud to support Asthma + Lung UK’s new campaign, which involves working with communities to better inform air pollution policy. In this article, Asthma + Lung UK explain the value of participat...

Fantastic initiative from @asthmaandlung.org.uk promoting genuine inclusion of young people who live in lower income areas and/or who are from racialised communities in shaping air quality policies.

Do get in touch / share with others - this work is essential!

urbanhealth.org.uk/insights/pol...

Air pollution raises risk of dementia, say Cambridge scientists Most comprehensive study of its kind highlights dangers of vehicle emissions and woodburning stoves

🧠Air pollution increases the risk of dementia.

❗️For every 10 micrograms per cubic metre of fine particulate pollution, a person's risk of dementia increases by 17%.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Judge rules car makers must release Dieselgate documents The High Court has today ruled that unredacted legal documents in the £6 billion ‘Dieselgate’ litigation against several major car manufacturers must be made public. Environmental campaign groups Mum...

BREAKING: We won! 💪 🙌

We are absolutely delighted at the decision the High Court has made, making documents in October’s #Dieselgate class action publicly available due to the high level of public interest in this case.

Air pollution raises risk of dementia, say Cambridge scientists Most comprehensive study of its kind highlights dangers of vehicle emissions and woodburning stoves Exposure to certain forms of air pollution is linked to an increased risk of developing dementia, according to the most comprehensive study of its kind. The illness is estimated to affect about 57 million people worldwide, with the number expected to increase to at least 150m cases by 2050. Continue reading...

Air pollution raises risk of dementia, say Cambridge scientists

Clean Air for the Ends: Poetic Unity’s community bike ride and rally demands clean air for all Over 150 people came together in central London on Sunday for Clean Air for the Ends, Poetic Unity’s powerful community bike ride and rally demanding clean air for all. Among the attendees was Lond…

🚲 "We believe in making a change in this world and we are doing this in a way that is intentionally fuelled by joy and connection."

Well said, Ryan J. Matthews-Robinson, CEO and Founder of Poetic Unity!
www.brixtonbuzz.com/2025/06/clea...

Most Brits support a wealth tax

Hackney to set bold new targets to tackle air pollution | Hackney Council News Residents and businesses are being invited to share their views on a new plan that would put Hackney at the forefront of UK efforts to improve air quality.

🌬️👏We welcome Hackney's ambition for new targets to tackle air pollution & align with WHO guidelines!

We’re excited to see what’s next — other councils, take note! 📝🚦
#CleanAir #HealthyAir

#EllasLaw | #CleanAirAct 1956 received Royal Assent on 5 July 1956 i.e. 69 years ago today. It followed 'City of London (Various Powers) Act 1954' of two years earlier << @sianberry.bsky.social's Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill would bring these into 21st century www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/...

Calls to clean up England’s ‘toxic air’ as GP visits for asthma attacks rise 45% Exclusive: Doctors say clean air zones need expanding, after 45,458 visits in first half of this year – up from 31,376 last year

Prof Kamila Hawthorne is right! “Air pollution is a major public health crisis which is often overlooked ... it can be responsible for a range of serious physical and mental conditions..."

🫁Brilliant to see the RCGP calling for urgent action to improve air quality.

👏 Amazing speech by @sianberry.bsky.social, re-introducing Ella's Law in Parliament today:

"The ultimate hope is this Government will adopt and back Ella's Law in her memory ... and recognise the human right to breathe clean air as soon as possible."

Ella’s Law: Make clean air a legal right Breathing clean air, that doesn’t stunt your lungs as a child, or cause lethal medical conditions as you age, including potential lung, brain and…

Today, with the support of cross-party MPs, I am bringing the Clean Air Bill back to Parliament.

Named for Ella Kissi-Debrah, who died from asthma linked to air pollution, Ella's Law will make breathing clean air a human right.
www.theargus.co.uk/news/2527355...

🚨 TODAY, the Healthy Air Coalition launches its new blueprint report for government action on clean air:
🎯Healthy air targets
🚫🔥 Phase out wood burning
🚗⬇️ Cut traffic
🌾✅ Cleaner farming
Join us in calling for #CleanAir for everyone
🔗http://bit.ly/4lbztNE

Air pollution disproportionately harming marginalised groups, government told An open letter from activists urged the government to "take decisive and immediate action to confront one of the most urgent, yet persistently under-reported justice issues" across the UK

In an open letter to Keir Starmer, campaigners at Enact Equality have called on ministers to "take decisive and immediate action to confront one of the most urgent, yet persistently under-reported justice issues" across the UK...

Air pollution 🧵

www.mylondon.news/news/uk-worl...

great shout - got to get some King Gizzard on there!

Retrofitting homes for better health With Repowering London

Too many homes in the UK are poorly insulated and ventilated, leading to damp, mould and indoor air pollution.

🏠 We're working with @repoweringlondon.bsky.social to develop community-led retrofit solutions to create warmer, safer homes with improved indoor air quality.

A vision for climate justice: a report from the APPG on Race and Community A report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Race and Community, investigating the relationship between the climate emergency and systemic racism

We're delighted to see our partners, Agnes Agyepong and the Ella Roberta Foundation, contribute to @runnymedetrust.bsky.social 's ‪new report.

Air pollution affects us all, but disproportionately affects racialised communities.
www.runnymedetrust.org/publications...

Just ignore all the myths about low traffic neighbourhoods: they’re popular, effective and here to stay | Izzy Romilly After the high court ruled one high-profile scheme unlawful, it is important to make the case for LTNs. Luckily, there is a strong one to make, says Izzy Romilly of climate charity Possible

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) work. The myths don’t.

LTNs make streets safer, fairer, and greener.

We can’t let misinformation block progress on clean air, climate, and health.

It’s time to clear the air and cut through the noise 👇
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Reducing air pollution from construction sites With Lambeth Council, Centre for Low Emission Construction (CLEC), Merton Council, Arup

This means that our work with the construction industry can prioritise action in the areas where the people need it most - meaning it will have the biggest impact on health equity.

Find out more on that work here: urbanhealth.org.uk/partnerships...

Our wonderful data team have developed a dashboard that highlights the wards in Lambeth & Southwark where

🫁People are most at risk of exposure to air pollution due to existing health conditions and social determinants

🏭There are highest existing levels of air pollution

Do check out the dashboard!

Asthma figures show ‘shocking’ health inequalities in England, charity says Exclusive: Minority ethnic patients in most deprived areas more likely to face asthma emergency, analysis shows

🚨 “Deeply troubling reality” revealed by @asthmaandlung.org.uk 's new research 🚨

"The UK has the worst death rate in Europe for lung conditions and they are more closely linked to inequality than any other major health condition."
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Asthma figures show ‘shocking’ health inequalities in England, charity says Exclusive: minority ethnic patients in most deprived areas more likely to face asthma emergency, analysis shows People from minority ethnic backgrounds in the most deprived areas of England are up to three times more likely to need emergency treatment for asthma than their white counterparts, analysis has found. Analysis of NHS statistics conducted by the charity Asthma and Lung UK found that Asian people with asthma from the most deprived quintile in England are almost three times more likely to have an emergency admission to hospital than their white counterparts. Black people with asthma in the most deprived quintile are more than twice as likely than their white counterparts to be admitted to hospital. Continue reading...

Asthma figures show ‘shocking’ health inequalities in England, charity says

Rise in percentage of homes with wood burners since 2022, analysis finds Greatest growth in rural areas as increase in homes with wood-burning stoves contributes to new air pollution hotspots

Delighted to see coverage of @‌globalactionplan.bsky.social's policy pathway towards a 2030 phase-out of wood burning in homes that have other forms of heating.

Burning is a major source of air pollution, with devastating health effects for burners and their neighbours.

⏰High air pollution alert for today in various parts of the UK⏰

If you're able, please try to avoid adding to pollution by not driving and not burning wood.

Stern quote: "This new report is muddled and misleading. There is far more progress being made around the world to decarbonise the global economy than it suggests."

Blair's new climate report is “muddled and misleading"

So says Prof Nicholas Stern, at LSE and author of the ‘The Economics of Climate Change: The Stern Review’ published by Tony Blair’s Government in October 2006

#climatecrisis

#CodeRed | Photos of London this morning (30/4/25) from Westminster. Obviously particles as well as ozone in this major #AirPollution episode cc @london.gov.uk

Wood-burning stoves WILL be allowed in new homes Wood-burning stoves will be allowed in new-build homes across England, the Government has confirmed - despite concerns over their impact on air pollution and carbon emission.

Delighted to see @benrpearce.bsky.social from @impurbanhealth.bsky.social quoted here.

Ben is right: The decision by MHCLG ignores guidance from the Climate Change Committee, Defra, and the Chief Medical Officer. More wood burning is bad for health and our climate.

Reduced sick leave among the benefits of London’s ULEZ A team from the University of Bath has found that the progressive improvements to London’s air quality by the introduction of increasingly stringent restrictions on vehicles, has led to a notable…

AMAZING! A study investigating the #Health & #AirPollution effects of LEZ & ULEZ reveals:

Sick leave down by 18.5% from pre-LEZ levels
ULEZ contributed to enhanced mental well-being
Physical health improvements

Cost–benefit analysis: LEZ & ULEZ generated savings exceeding £37 million per year. 😍

Londoners don't care about e-bike fires because the “wrong” people are victims Two years ago, on a grey day in March, I was standing outside a block of flats in Shadwell, listening to a fellow delivery rider speak with passion as he addressed the crowd present at the vigil. His ...

E-bike blazes have exposed a brutal truth: Londoners don't care about fires if the “wrong” people are victims

www.standard.co.uk/comment/ebik...