27 May 2008: airAlert back to help asthma sufferers on pollution days

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airAlert, a free air quality alert service for asthma sufferers and people with other respiratory conditions, is now operational for 2008 in Sussex. We are also launching the airAlert-4-schools service at Wallands School, Lewes on the 3rd June and Central School, Chichester on the 5th June (World Environment Day).

airAlert is designed to send messages to mobile or home telephones and via email at times when poor air quality is predicted. The service is designed to inform sensitive people who may suffer from a pollution episode, the day before it is expected, so as to help them make informed choices about managing their respiratory health.

The service is provided by the Sussex Air Quality Partnership (Sussex –air), which is made up of members from East and West Sussex local and county authorities, the Sussex Primary Care Trusts, the Health Protection Agency, the Environment Agency and the Sussex Universities (Brighton and Sussex). The partnership also has close ties with King’s College London (Environment Research Group) and Environmental Protection UK.

Anyone with asthma or a respiratory complaint can register for free on-line at http://www.airalert.info/ or by post by returning a free-post response form in the airAlert leaflets that will become available at GP surgeries and clinics.

For more information please contact Nigel Jenkins, Sussex Air Quality Partnership project officer on 01273 484331 or email nigel.jenkins@lewes.gov.uk

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Notes for editors:

Further details about the service and about the Sussex Air Quality Partnership are available online at http://www.sussex-air.net/

Media enquiries:

Contact Nigel Jenkins, Sussex Air Quality Partnership and airAlert  project manager on 01273 484331, 07976 241 225 or email nigel.jenkins@lewes.gov.uk  or Barbara Arnold on 01273 484 372 or email barbara.arnold@lewes.gov.uk