Philips, the Philips Foundation and Global Action Plan team up to improve the air quality at schools
September 16 2020 - 4:00AM
Philips, the Philips Foundation and Global Action Plan team up to
improve the air quality at schools
September 16, 2020
- New analysis reveals a 50% reduction in air pollution
around schools across the UK and Ireland
could halve the number of children
who have lung function so poor as to
affect their everyday lives
- National Clean Air for Schools Framework launched to tackle air
pollution in and around schools
- Microscope images of children’s sputum reveal the level of
black carbon in their lungs
Amsterdam, the Netherlands – Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG,
AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, and the Philips
Foundation, with its mission to provide access to quality
healthcare for disadvantaged communities through innovation,
together with UK-based charity Global Action Plan reveal new
analysis by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) that shows if
outdoor air pollution is halved, there could be up to a 20-50%
reduction in the number of children with poor lung
function across the UK and Republic of Ireland [1]. The
analysis also finds the reduction in air pollution seen during the
country-wide lockdown leads to asthma exacerbations in children all
but disappearing.
Based on this analysis, a coalition comprised of Global Action
Plan, the Philips Foundation, Living Streets, Modeshift Stars and
Mums for Lungs, with the support of Philips and the National
Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), are collaborating for
nationwide action by the Government and local authorities to
improve air quality at schools, driven by a legally binding target
to meet World Health Organization limits.
To support the movement, Global Action Plan and the Philips
Foundation, with the endorsement of Philips, have
launched “The Clean Air for Schools Framework”. The framework
is a free online tool that gives teachers, headteachers,
parents and local authorities a bespoke blueprint of actions for
tackling air pollution in and around the school. This is drawn from
its database of 50 actions that have been validated by a mix of
existing research, academic insights from the University of
Manchester and in school air quality testing.
The tool is particularly important for schools in air pollution
hotspots [2] across the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
It will enable them to reduce air pollution from their
own operations, educate the next generation to help
them and their families make cleaner air
choices and become a local leader on air pollution, working
with partners to improve air quality in the local area.
Around a quarter of all morning, rush-hour car trips during
school term time comprise school run traffic, increasing emissions
outside schools. A clean air program implemented by the London
Borough of Hackney, pioneer of School Streets and one of the
leading community grassroots initiatives proactively tackling air
pollution, shows the significant improvements that can be made
through these programs. The first four School Streets launched in
the borough showed that traffic reduced by an average of 68%, the
number of children cycling to school increased by 51%, and vehicle
emissions outside schools (NOx, PM10 and PM2.5) are down by 74% as
a result of the schemes [3].
“Local authorities must take advantage of free tools such as the
Clean Air for Schools Framework, as the analysis by Queen Mary
University of London shows, air pollution impacts the daily lives
of so many children,” said Chris Large, Co-CEO at Global Action
Plan. “But they must act now. Therefore, protecting today’s
generation of school children against the toxins carried by air
pollution is not only imperative to preventing damage to
children’s daily health but also to reduce the impact of this and
future pandemics.”
“As school children continue to settle into classrooms this
autumn, we have a once in a generation opportunity to tackle poor
air quality head-on,” said Mark Leftwich, Director Personal Health,
Philips UK and Ireland. “It is vital we take immediate action to
protect public health from significant future health crises, which
ongoing research shows can be worsened by air pollution in a
patient with underlying respiratory issues. Setting long-term
targets for emissions is welcome, but we cannot wait another 20 or
30 years for proposed targets to take effect. Doing so would
compromise the health of the most vulnerable communities for
decades to come – which crucially includes our children.”
To demonstrate the impact air pollution has on children’s lungs,
the campaign is showcasing new infra-red images of
children’s sputum, which show the pollutants found in the lungs.
“Airborne” by artist Sarah Stirk is a multimedia project focusing
on air pollution’s impact on the health of children in London. It
utilizes microscopic images of black carbon i.e., particulate
matter, in children’s spit, data maps showing pollution levels and
new infrared images of children. Campaigners will use the new
assets as a means of making the invisible visible to
put added pressure on local authorities across the UK and Ireland
to take urgent action.
[1]
https://www.globalactionplan.org.uk/files/effects_of_air_pollution_exposure_by_dr_abigail_whitehouse.pdf[2]
https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/2017/04/04/air-pollution-nurseries/
[3]
https://news.hackney.gov.uk/traffic-to-be-banned-outside-40-schools-as-part-of-emergency-plan/
For further information, please contact:
Laura SeikrittPhilips Global Press OfficeTel.: +31 6 20 74 03
18Email: laura.seikritt@philips.com
Elizabeth Littlewood Philips U.K. & Ireland Tel.: +44 7909
874563 Email: Elizabeth.littlewood@philips.com
Yannick EshuijsPhilips FoundationTel.: +31 6 18 52 66 33Email:
yannick.eshuijs@philips.com
About Royal PhilipsRoyal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA)
is a leading health technology company focused on improving
people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health
continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis,
treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and
deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated
solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a
leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient
monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health
and home care. Philips generated 2019 sales of EUR 19.5 billion and
employs approximately 81,000 employees with sales and services in
more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at
www.philips.com/newscenter.
About the Philips FoundationThe Philips Foundation is a
registered charity that was established in July 2014 – founded on
the belief that innovation and collaboration can help solve some of
the world’s toughest healthcare challenges for the underserved and
make essential impact. Reflecting our commitment to United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote
well-being for all at all ages) and 17 (Revitalize the global
partnership for sustainable development), the mission of the
Foundation is to reduce healthcare inequality by providing access
to quality healthcare for disadvantaged communities. The Philips
Foundation fulfills its mission by deploying Philips’ expertise,
innovative products and solutions, by collaborating with key
partners around the world (including respected NGOs such as UNICEF,
Amref and ICRC), and by providing financial support for the
collaborative activities. More information on the Philips
Foundation can be found at www.philips-foundation.com
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