Welcome to the airAlert service for Herts & Beds

Health Advice

• airAlert messages relate to the potential for predicted levels of pollution to impact on the health of the population.
• Air pollution can cause short-term health effects in sensitive individuals (e.g. people who already suffer from heart disease or lung diseases, including asthma). Effects on sensitive people can be reduced by spending less time outdoors. 'Reliever' inhalers should lessen effects on asthma sufferers.
• For specialist advice on the effects of pollution on your specific condition please contact your health professional.
• Health advice is based on the UK Air Quality Banding system approved by the Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollution Episodes (COMEAP). The system uses an index divided into four bands to provide more detail about air pollution levels in a simple way, similar to the sun index or pollen index.

	Low (1-3)	When air pollution is LOW effects are unlikely to be noticed even by those who are sensitive to air pollution.
	Moderate (4-6)	When air pollution is MODERATE sensitive people may notice mild effects but these are unlikely to need action.
	High (7-9)	When air pollution is HIGH sensitive people may notice significant effects and may need to take action.
	Very High (10)	When air pollution is VERY HIGH effects on sensitive people, described for HIGH pollution, may worsen.

• The overall air pollution index for the region is calculated from the highest index value of five pollutants:
• • Nitrogen Dioxide
  • Sulphur Dioxide
  • Ozone
  • Carbon Monoxide
  • Particles < 10µm (PM₁₀)