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Patrick Lee

@patrickjalee.bsky.social
198 followers 194 following 86 posts

Comms Manager for Impact on Urban Health, focusing on health, air pollution, and climate.

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Reposted by Patrick Lee
Impact on Urban Health @impurbanhealth.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Our Freedom of Information request has been published by The Guardian this morning. What these figures reveal about inequality is shocking. 🧵 www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
theguardian.com
Alarm over hospital lung admissions for children in England’s poorest postcodes
Exclusive: Analysis of NHS England data reveals stark impact of air pollution in deprived areas
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
What's new about the Govt's new Environment Improvement Plan? Is it it ambitious enough? And what does it mean for air quality? Enjoyed working on this one with @benrpearce.bsky.social
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Reposted by Patrick Lee
Ben Pearce @benrpearce.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
It was positive to see the EIP published earlier this week. Highlights include: - Acknowledgement we need to focus on sources such as woodburning and freight - EU alignment on PM2.5 targets - Support for local authority AQ teams - More data to build awareness and engagement with vulnerable groups
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Reposted by Patrick Lee
Impact on Urban Health @impurbanhealth.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
🚨Great news! Limit for UK’s most dangerous air pollutant, PM2.5, is being cut to 10 µg/m³ by 2030. 🔥New Environmental Improvement Plan aims to reduce emissions at source. 👏Kudos to Emma Reynolds and Defra for setting ambitious targets. www.gov.uk/government/p...
gov.uk
Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) 2025
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Reposted by Patrick Lee
Simon Birkett, Clean Air in London @cleanairlondon.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
#BanDiesel | @london.gov.uk pledged he'd restore London's #AirQuality to legal and safe levels in 2016. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels are neither. In a way, we're back where we thought we were 20 years ago after @who.int slashed guideline levels in 2021. We need zero air emission buses and buildings
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Reposted by Patrick Lee
Zak Bond @zakbond.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
🔔London meets clean air laws🔔 Great news that London has finally met legal limits for NO2, proving that bold action on dirty air delivers real results. This is a crucial milestone towards reaching World Health Organization guidelines as soon as possible. 1/ www.london.gov.uk/london-meets...
london.gov.uk
London meets legal limits for toxic NO2 pollution for the first time – almost 200 years earlier than predicted – following the Mayor’s world leading air pollution policies
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, today hailed the success of his bold air quality policies which have led to the capital’s air pollution levels falling to within the legal limit for the first time.
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Reposted by Patrick Lee
Impact on Urban Health @impurbanhealth.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
📢Our Amplifying Voices strand partners with the communities who are most affected by air pollution to advocate for change. ♥️As part of that strand, we're proud to support the Ella Roberta Foundation's work to protect children from air pollution. youtu.be/5xDn-UZQN-U
youtu.be
Amplifying Voices: Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, The Ella Roberta Foundation
At Impact on Urban Health, we believe the people whose health is most affected by air pollution should be at the heart of the solutions to improve it. Our Amplifying Voices strand supports the…
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
Brill reporting. Most people underestimate the social cost of diesel vans. Diesel delivery vans cost London alone over £2 *billion* every year.
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
From air pollution, to food poverty and extreme heat: I wrote about how the climate crisis is affecting health in towns and cities: urbanhealth.org.uk/insights/opi...
urbanhealth.org.uk
Our changing climate is an urban health emergency
The climate crisis is making urban areas increasingly dangerous places to live, with marginalised communities in cities the most affected.
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
"In Delhi, the researchers found particles from industrial pollution, including chemicals used in the manufacture of plastics, laminates and adhesives, and in recycling electronic waste. Particle pollution from traffic was greatest in Delhi." www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
How farm fires intensify Delhi’s post-monsoon smog problem
Extreme air pollution from farming fires meets high population density, causing substantial harm to health
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
🚨Major new report on #CleanAirDay. 📉Air pollution costs the UK more than £500m a week, with 99% of the population breathing toxic air, according to @rcphysicians.bsky.social. 💀It also kills more than 500 people a week, and harms almost every organ in the body. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
UK air pollution killing more than 500 people a week, doctors say
Royal College of Physicians also says poor air quality costs country more than £500m a week
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
"The effects of moving to an area with worse air pollution are not confined to mental health. "A 10-year study in southern California also showed that lung growth improved for children that moved to areas with less particle pollution." www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
How does air pollution affect mental health? New study aimed to find out
Research looked at records of 14,800 people in Bradford to see what happened after they moved to more polluted area
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
What does the Government's spending review mean for health in urban areas?👇
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Reposted by Patrick Lee
Impact on Urban Health @impurbanhealth.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
Improve air quality: Access to healthy food is vital for a healthy society. So is clean air. The Govt can protect children from toxic air pollution. Bold national action, like a new Clean Air Act, would be an investment in better public health: urbanhealth.org.uk/insights/opi...
urbanhealth.org.uk
Improving air quality must be central to Labour’s health mission
Action would help to save money and reduce social inequalities. Matt Towner writes for New Statesman.
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Reposted by Patrick Lee
Impact on Urban Health @impurbanhealth.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
🚨Fantastic news! The Govt is expanding free school meals to families on Universal Credit, a vital investment in children's long-term health. But there are more ways the Govt can now build on these foundations for a healthier society 🧵👇 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Bus fares to jobs: Seven ways the Spending Review affects you
Spending limits for government departments are being outlined by the chancellor. This is how it affects you.
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Reposted by Patrick Lee
Impact on Urban Health @impurbanhealth.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
🚧 Construction sites contribute significantly to air pollution. Discover how we're using data to target interventions and improve urban health. 🔗 Read more: urbanhealth.org.uk/insights/dat...
urbanhealth.org.uk
Using data to reduce air pollution from construction sites
The Air Pollution Risk Index tool identified areas where improving air quality could have the biggest benefit on people’s health.
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Reposted by Patrick Lee
Cllr Emily Kerr 💚 @emilykerr36.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
Very interesting article on how policymakers view social media through the lens of cycling policy. The key insight for cycling advocates is how many undermine the agenda through being too negative: a constructive approach is much better, plus email (1/2) www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
Does social media influence local elected leaders? A study of online engagement methods through the lens of cycling policymaking in the United Kingdom
Social media can be sold as a way to improve grassroots citizen engagement, yet the ways in which it affects decisions made by local elected leaders are less well understood. This study examines th...
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
Not sure if you've seen this, but if not you might find it interesting: www.actionforcleanair.org.uk/evidence-res...
actionforcleanair.org.uk
Policy pathway to reduce air pollution by phasing out domestic burning by 2030
Wood burning in our homes is a key cause of air pollution and has significant impacts both on people’s health and the environment. We outline five critical problems which currently act as barriers to ...
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 24/05/2025
Impact on Urban Health are doing loads on wood burning: urbanhealth.org.uk/insights/new... urbanhealth.org.uk/insights/rep... urbanhealth.org.uk/partnerships...
urbanhealth.org.uk
The Government’s backward step on wood-burning stoves puts public health and climate action at risk
The Government's decision to permit wood-burning stoves in new builds contradicts growing evidence about the harmful effects these stoves have on public health and the environment.
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Reposted by Patrick Lee
Impact on Urban Health @impurbanhealth.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
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...
mylondon.news
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
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Reposted by Patrick Lee
Ben Pearce @benrpearce.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
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!
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Reposted by Patrick Lee
Mums for Lungs @mumsforlungs.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
EU Member States have highlighted their commitment to protecting children’s health by adopting new binding #AirPollution targets. When will our Labour government afford the same #Health protections to our children @emmahardymp.bsky.social?
A letter to Minister Emma Hardy asking when the Labour government will commit to new air pollution targets, considering the EU has already done so, thereby prioritising the health of its citizens.
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
Kudos to @hfcouncil.bsky.social 👏 for prioritising people's health and the environment: "The council noted that private wood-burners have contributed to the most severe smog episodes recorded in London during recent winters." www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...
standard.co.uk
London council plans garden bonfire ban to tackle harmful air pollution
The plan by Hammersmith and Fulham Council involves creating a new by-law to prevent residents from burning household or garden waste
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
🔥The Government’s backward step on wood-burning stoves puts public health and climate action at risk. The Govt is ignoring guidance from @thecccuk.bsky.social, Defra, and the Chief Medical Officer. urbanhealth.org.uk/insights/new...
urbanhealth.org.uk
The Government’s backward step on wood-burning stoves puts public health and climate action at risk
The Government's decision to permit wood-burning stoves in new builds contradicts growing evidence about the harmful effects these stoves have on public health and the environment.
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
Clean air zones work. Full research: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
“And Breathe Normally”: Impacts of low emission zones on sick leave and mental well-being
Air pollution poses a global concern due to its detrimental effects on climate, healthcare, and human capital accumulation. However, there is limited …
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
Results on LEZ and ULEZ from Uni of Bath: ✅Improvements in general health 🫁Decrease in respiratory issues 🤒People 18.5% less likely to take sick leave 😃People report feeling happier 😳People feel less anxious airqualitynews.com/local-govern...
airqualitynews.com
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 drop...
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
What are the solutions? Consider whether what we gain from social media is worth what it costs: Our data sold to the highest bidder to help manipulate behaviour. And to advocate for/move to ad-free, subscription-based platforms. www.bbc.co.uk/news/technol...
bbc.co.uk
Facebook and Google need ad-free options says Jaron Lanier
Virtual reality pioneer Jaron Lanier says the tech firms should offer an alternative to ads.
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
It's also exactly what the Centre for Countering Digital Hate warned about Twitter specifically: counterhate.com/topic/twitter/
counterhate.com
Twitter — Center for Countering Digital Hate | CCDH
Hate and disinformation have skyrocketed on Twitter - now X - since Elon Musk took over the platform.
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
This is exactly what Jaron Lanier warns us about social media platforms and their business models. Their focus on advertising, data collection, and manipulation harms people and society. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFsS...
youtube.com
Jaron Lanier: Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Account Right Now
YouTube video by Pioneer Works
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
🧵The meat industry manufactured backlash against one of the most important food and climate reports ever published. Using social media, tactics included... 🚫Content pollution and disinformation 📢Online abuse ✂️Polarising audiences. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
PR campaign may have fuelled food study backlash, leaked document shows
Eat-Lancet report recommended shift to more plant-based, climate-friendly diet but was extensively attacked online
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
SUVs... 🤕Are more likely to kill or injure people 🛣️Cause more wear and tear on roads 🚦Disproportionately add to congestion ❤️‍🩹Pollute the air for us all. So should SUV drivers pay more road tax? Have your say: www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
thetimes.com
Should drivers of bigger cars pay more road tax?
Charges depend on emissions and vehicle value, but what about those heavy SUVs? When it comes to road duty, should size matter? We hear opposing views
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Amandeep Kellay @amandeepsk.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
Thanks for engaging. Woodburning has huge PM output; I'd ban the practice in urban areas if I could. I funded this project to determine the size polluting on-demand food & its potential to grow. At 20 ktonnes annually, it's not insignificant. Comparable to taxis and construction NRMM (LEAI) (1/2)
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Reposted by Patrick Lee
Impact on Urban Health @impurbanhealth.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
Delighted to see work by our partners, @wearepossible.bsky.social, referenced in this article. An unprecedented fall in vehicle miles is required by 2030 to meet climate goals. That means food delivery workers must be protected to feel safe at work and on roads.
theguardian.com
How has Deliveroo turned a profit? By slashing the pay and dismantling the rights of riders like me | Shaf Hussain
Our work is dangerous and the pay only gets worse, while the CEO has just sold £15m in shares – we deserve better, says Deliveroo rider Shaf Hussain
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
People in London are breathing much cleaner air, thanks to the ULEZ. That means better health, less burden on the NHS, fewer days taken off sick, improved health outcomes for children... www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Dramatic fall in London’s levels of deadly pollutants after Ulez expansion
People in capital breathing much cleaner air, with significant improvements in capital’s most deprived areas
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
The transition away from gas cooking envisaged by the UK's Climate Change Committee will mean big improvements to air pollution in many homes. "Removing gas stoves from homes provides positive outcomes for health but also climate..." www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
How cooking with gas releases harmful air pollution in the home
Nitrogen dioxide, normally associated with diesel exhausts, is among pollutants released by using gas cooker and hob
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
Particles from tyres are the biggest source of nanoplastic pollution in the high Alps. Microplastics have been discovered in human blood, semen and breast milk and in brains, livers and bone marrow, indicating profuse contamination of people’s bodies. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Vehicle tyres found to be biggest source of nanoplastics in the high Alps
Mountaineers now scaling more peaks for first global study of nanoplastics, which can enter lungs and bloodstream
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
Enjoyed writing for Greenfleet about how the Govt can support businesses to reduce pollution: 🏡 Last Mile Taskforce 📦 National, open network of pick up and drop off points 🫰 Economic incentives 🏅 Rewards to track and reduce air pollution. issuu.com/psi-media/do...
issuu.com
GreenFleet 157
Driving the Switch to Cleaner Fleets
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
1,100+ people a year in the UK are developing the most prevalent form of lung cancer as a result of air pollution. @cancerresearchuk.org: "This major study shows that air pollution causes hundreds of thousands of lung cancer cases every year across the world." www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
theguardian.com
Air pollution causing 1,100 cases a year of main form of lung cancer in UK
Exclusive: Health experts and cancer charities say findings should serve as wake-up call to ministers
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
Bradford Clean Air Zone, one year in: ✅ Less air pollution 🫁 GP visits for respiratory illnesses down by 25% ♥️ GP visits for heart problems down by 24% 💰 Zone is saving the health service about £30,700 every month. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Bradford clean air zone saves NHS over £30,000 a month in first year
After one year of the zone, which is the second largest in England, GP visits for respiratory illnesses were down by a quarter
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Brilliant to see Policy Connect writing about the health effects of burning wood and the need for better regulation 🔥🔥 www.policyconnect.org.uk/blog/underre...
policyconnect.org.uk
Underregulated heating systems are a lethal risk to those indoors and out
Solid and liquid fuel appliances produce a deluge of toxic air pollutants. To better protect residents’ health, they should be covered by the same regulatory protections as gas appliances. Heating sys...
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Reposted by Patrick Lee
Dr. Aaron Thierry @thierryaaron.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
2006: HM Treasury publishes the Stern review on 'The Economics of #Climate Change It found "the benefits of strong, early action considerably outweigh the costs" 2025: The Chancellor of the Exchequer disgraces themself
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
It's interesting that: 1) Most of the comms on raising awareness of health effects of wood burning are informed by market research that says "be kind in comms, don't be judgemental". 2) None of the pro wood burning content seems to deny burning harms health.
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Reposted by Patrick Lee
Mete Coban MBE @metecoban92.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Most people aren’t aware of the health harms associated with wood burning. Initiatives like #CleanAirNight are important to raise awareness among Londoners and empower them to make informed choices for their health & the environment. Find out more ➡️ cleanairhub.org.uk/clean-air-night
cleanairhub.org.uk
Clean Air Night
Did you know that lighting fires in our homes is the largest source of harmful small particle air pollution in the UK? If you didn’t, you’re not alone! Wood burning harms our health and the environmen...
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Fleur Anderson MP @fleuranderson.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
Wood burning harms our health and the environment, but most people are unaware that it is a major source of air pollution🔥 Learn the facts about wood burning now ⬇️ cleanairnight.org.uk @mumsforlungs.bsky.social
cleanairnight.org.uk
Clean Air Night
Did you know that lighting fires in our homes is the largest source of harmful small particle air pollution in the UK? If you didn’t, you’re not alone! Wood burning harms our health and the environmen...
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Reposted by Patrick Lee
New Economics Foundation @neweconomics.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Rachel Reeves is pushing ahead with airport expansions because she thinks it will grow the economy - but this doesn't make sense. Much more money leaves the UK as a result of foreign tourism than is brought in.
Headline: In 2023 £41bn left the UK as UK tourists spent more abroad than foreign tourists visiting the UK.  With a bar graph showing the total spending by UK residents abroad was £72bn and the total spending by overseas resident in the UK was £31bn
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
It's a funny position to take. I don't think anyone thinks wood burners should be "ashamed". Impact on Urban Health have published lots research into communicating kindly on the subject. But people need to be informed of health impact. Interesting the article doesn't dispute health warnings at all.
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Burning wood might seem like a cosy way of heating a home, but it's devastating for people's health. It's also almost always the more expensive way of heating a home! urbanhealth.org.uk/insights/rep...
urbanhealth.org.uk
Wood burning is more expensive than central heating
There’s a perception that burning wood is a cheaper way to heat a home. New research we’ve supported by Global Action Plan shows not only is that not true, but there are significant hidden costs to bu...
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
It's #CleanAirNight! Delighted to see this excellent article from @adamvaughan.bsky.social Adam is right: "Although newer Ecodesign stoves emit less pollution than older ones and open fires, they are still far dirtier than most alternative heating sources." www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
thetimes.com
Chimney sweeps asked to park away from homes amid ‘stove stigma’
Council clean air campaigns about the dangers of air pollution caused by wood-burning stoves have contributed to a sense of embarrassment among owners
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
Last year, New York City recorded its worst ever air quality due to the fires in California. In total, the air quality alerts from the fires will affect roughly 100 million people. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Air pollution in US from wildfire smoke is worst in recent recorded history
Exclusive: rapid analysis of extreme event by Stanford University shows worst day of exposure to such pollution since 2006
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Patrick Lee @patrickjalee.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
“Since the early 1970s, California's annual wildfire extent increased fivefold, punctuated by extremely large and destructive wildfires in 2017 and 2018." agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Observed Impacts of Anthropogenic Climate Change on Wildfire in California
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