Air pollution app developed for Olympics

An air pollution app has been developed for the London Olympics which gives audiences and participants hourly air quality status around the venues.

The free London Air app provides detailed air pollution data on a map of the Olympic venues. The information is updated hourly and has been developed by scientists at King's College London, which has been one of the principle research institutions involved in this year's Games.

Android and iPhone users will be able to monitor whether pollution levels are safe in London, after a lot of speculation that weather systems around the capital will bring smog conditions. Air monitoring equipment has been used in the run up to the Games to analyse the health risks to competing athletes.

The app will cover Olympic venues as well as pollution levels nearby. It is incredibly detailed and accurate, and can even give street-by-street pollution levels so visitors can avoid the highest concentrations of pollution in the city, particularly if they are susceptible to respiratory problems.

London has the largest and most advanced air quality surveillance systems of any city in Europe. It is also one of the most polluted cities, which is why it is essential to keep well informed on a visit to the English capital.

Dr Gary Fuller from the Environmental Research Group at King’s College London, said: "The effects of air pollution on athletes came to the fore during the 1984 Los Angeles Games, and has remained on the Olympic agenda ever since.

"For the first time in the history of the Games spectators and athletes will be able to access real-time air pollution information on any mobile device, wherever they are in London. We hope this will be useful for spectators and athletes alike. It will be particularly useful for people who are susceptible to respiratory problems, such as asthma, so they can avoid pollution hot-spots."

Posted by Claire Manning