Anti-toxin mural unveiled in London to mark Clean Air Day

An anti-toxin mural, which absorbs pollution from the air on one of London’s busiest streets, has been unveiled to mark Clean Air Day (June 20).

The Euston Road mural uses a special paint coating that can reduce levels of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere by up to 73% when applied to concrete and brick.

Resysten’s CleanAir paint breaks down pollutants into harmless salts found naturally in the Earth, which are then weathered away.

It is brought to life by marketing agency Dentsu UK&I in partnership with environmental charity Global Action Plan for Clean Air Day.

“We are proud to work with a charity as dedicated as Global Action Plan, which drives change globally but also makes a real difference to people’s lives in local communities,” said Pamela Stathakis, head of sustainability, EMEA at Dentsu.

As part of Clean Air Day, the Global Action Plan has also launched an online petition, calling on whichever party forms the next UK government to make walking, driving and cycling safer and ensure everyone has access to reliable, affordable and efficient public transport.

The Global Clean Air Action Plan’s head of campaigns, Tessa Bartholomew-Good, said in an interview that the aim of this year’s event is to “empower people to use the power of their voices” to demand wider, systemic changes about air pollution.

He added that, according to research carried out by the charity, public support for government action on air pollution has increased over the past five years, with 93% of Britons believing that tackling air pollution should be a priority for government ministers in December 2023. , up from 71% in 2018.

“We focus on issues where we believe the solutions are most tangible,” added Bartholomew-Good.

“We know that cars and trucks are the biggest source of toxic chemicals in our air in the UK and there are solutions today to clean them up.

“We don’t need new technology and we’re not going to remove cars or remove things. It’s about giving people more options for sustainable travel that’s good for their health, good for the planet and at the same time reduces air pollution.”

Matt Towner, program director of the air pollution health effects program at Impact on Urban Health, said in an email that Clean Air Day is an important time to remember three things.

Towner said the first is how air pollution destroys people’s health.

“If you live in a city, you breathe dangerous levels of air pollution. The numbers are staggering. Air pollution is thought to contribute to one in five deaths worldwide,” he added.

“Air pollution is health inequality in action. It hurts us all but, in cities around the world, it is the most marginalized communities that bear the brunt.

“And air quality can improve quickly. “All we need is for governments to show political will to protect people’s health from toxic air,” Towner said.

Jemima Hartshorn, co-founder of campaign group Mums for Lungs, said in an email that whoever forms the next UK government should prioritize tackling this public health issue by passing a strong clean air law.

He added that legislation should commit to achieving WHO levels as soon as possible, phase out diesel vehicles with limited exceptions by 2030 and end unnecessary wood burning.

Nigel Sullivan, head of people and sustainability at international healthcare provider Bupa, said in an email that Clean Air Day brings into focus not only the impact of air quality on our health but also the inextricable link between people’s health and of the planet.

“At Bupa, we have a vision of a future where cities support our health and wellbeing, keep people well and prevent them from needing healthcare interventions in the first place, because our health doesn’t just happen in hospitals, it happens in the us. “In everyday life, it happens in cities,” Sullivan added.

“While much more needs to be done, by acting together we can all play a role in reducing air pollution.”

And James Bellinger, associate director for climate and sustainability at international consultancy Arup said in an email that challenges to tackling air pollution include the rate of innovation and the comparative lack of funding for innovation compared to health costs from air pollution.

“The business case for improving air quality is clear, but the path to funding solutions is not clearly owned by government and has recently been further reduced by cuts to the Defra air quality grant programme,” Bellinger said.

“We need to design and enforce design that actually improves air quality, rather than just minimizing the effects of pollution,” he added.

“This is a challenge that has continued in urban environments, and as our understanding of the various sources of pollutants improves, it is becoming increasingly apparent in rural areas as well.”