People across the UK can now receive personalised warnings when air pollution in their area is forecast to reach high levels, under a new government service designed to make pollution
information easier to access and act on.
The opt-in system allows users to choose locations that matter to them — including their home, workplace or a favourite park — and receive alerts by text message or email when pollution levels are expected to rise.
The government says the service will give people a clearer picture of the air around them and help those particularly vulnerable to pollution make informed decisions about outdoor activities and exposure.
Air pollution affects millions of people and can worsen conditions including asthma and other respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Health experts have also linked prolonged exposure to air pollution with serious outcomes across the life course, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, childhood lung disease and complications during pregnancy.
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle said the new system would give the public “clear, reliable information” about the quality of the air they breathe.
She said easier access to local pollution data would help people, especially those with conditions such as asthma, take practical measures to limit their exposure.
Chief Medical Officer for England Professor Sir Chris Whitty described air pollution as a major but preventable health challenge, warning that its effects can begin before birth and continue throughout a person's life.
He highlighted children, pregnant women and people with existing lung or cardiovascular conditions as among those most at risk.
The new service monitors five major pollutants:
- PM2.5 fine particulate matter
- PM10 particulate matter
- Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
- Ozone (O3)
- Sulphur dioxide (SO2)
By combining pollution information in a single online service, the government aims to make it simpler for people to understand local conditions without having to search across different sources.
The launch follows a commitment in the government's Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 to improve public access to air quality information and support people in reducing their exposure to pollution.
The alert service is available through GOV.UK, where users can select locations and register to receive notifications.
The initiative is part of a broader programme of measures aimed at reducing air pollution, including proposed changes to industrial permitting and a consultation on stronger emissions requirements for new wood-burning appliances.
The government says improving access to timely pollution warnings, alongside measures to cut emissions at source, will help reduce the health burden associated with poor air quality.
