'Dirty air' warnings to be sent out to neighbourhoods

16 December 2025

Andy GiddingsWest Midlands

News image — The alerts will warn of high levels of nitrogen dioxide and how residents can protect themselves

BBC The Birmingham skyline with the Rotunda in the foreground and a smoking chimney in the background — The alerts will warn of high levels of nitrogen dioxide and how residents can protect themselves

People in the West Midlands have been offered free alerts to warn them of high air pollution in their neighbourhood.

They will come from the Clean Air West Midlands website and take the form of a voicemail, email or text, with practical tips to help people protect themselves from the dangers of breathing poor quality air.

They will also provide information for people living with long-term health conditions such as asthma, coronary heart disease, and lung cancer.

The information will come from a network of 90 air quality sensors installed outside homes, schools, businesses, hospitals and sports centres around the region.

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker switched it on on Tuesday and said: "Dirty air has a devastating effect on lives.

"It's simply not acceptable that every year 2,300 people living in our region die prematurely because of air pollution, but we can change that."

He said action was also being taken to improve air quality through initiatives like electric buses, new walking and cycling routes and projects to restore green spaces.

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