Free High Quality Pollution Masks For All In London

I just spent £40.00 on a pollution mask so that I can cycle my way into town with feeling slightly safer with less exposure to the toxic levels of air pollution that fill the city.

At first, on purchasing the mask it almost felt like the normal thing to do, increasingly seeing more masks pop up on cyclists faces throughout town. "Well the air dramatically exceeds legal toxicity levels, it gives me respiratory problems, it flares my hay-fever up terribly... I guess this is just something i need now because this is how it is, and i care about my health..." I thought to myself.

But wait a minute... Why am i having to fork out forty quid so i can breath safely on my way to work?! Especially when I am one of the few who are trying to make a difference by choosing to cycle my way around town. I am not contributing to this health crisis yet I am paying for it.

The truth is, we're all paying for it whether you're a cyclist, driver, walker, tuber. Having lived in London for 3 years now, and been a cyclist the entire time, the terrible air quality is something myself and friends have become increasingly aware of and is something we have noticed getting worse with little being done urgently to change this.

"Around 9,500 people die in London alone every year due to long-term exposure to air pollution, with most deaths due to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulates known as PM2.5s." (Guardian 7 Oct 2015)

"The research based on the latest updated London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory, shows that every area in the capital exceeds World Health Organisation (WHO) limits for a damaging type of particle known as PM2.5. It also found that 7.9 million Londoners – nearly 95% of the capital’s population – live in areas that exceed the limit by 50% or more. In central London the average annual levels are almost double the WHO limit of 10 µg/m3." - (Guardian Oct, 2017)

An "Ultra Low emission zone" set for 2019 and to be expanded by 2021 is a good step, but we need more urgent action to be taken. "Paul Morozzo, a clean air campaigner at Greenpeace, said: “London air isn’t safe to breathe. Every person in London is affected by this crisis – old or young, healthy or ill. The air you breathe in London is putting your health at risk now and in the future, whether you realise it or not." (Guardian 4 Oct 2017).

Cyclists, walkers and members of the public who choose to opt out of driving/ public transport should be encouraged to continue staying green by being given pollution masks to wear in the increasingly dangerous and toxic environment. Although i feel this is by no means a solution to the problem, and Government must take more drastic steps to ensure the safety of the public here in London and in all areas across the country affected by air pollution, I feel this is a fair and necessary action until air quality improves. The Masks should be seen as an immediate and necessary tool to reduce the risk of illness in a city with a government that seems to refuse to take responsibility for the mess it has caused to air quality. I just don't feel this is something I should have to pay for when Government could implement stricter laws more urgently to protect it's people right now.

High quality pollution masks such as the Respro Ultralight Pollution Mask filter out the deadly particulates and dust allowing you to breath cleaner air.

I hope that this petition may reach and enlighten those who may not be aware of the severity of the crisis. I am not just campaigning for my own health and well-being, but for all in the city. We should all be wearing pollution masks right now, however you travel through the city. If you are concerned for you and your families health regarding air pollution, and you feel you should be protected with a mask, then I feel it is the responsibility of Government to provide you with one.

I don't feel I should be rewarded or congratulated for choosing to cycle. I love cycling. I get everywhere faster, I have more fun, i get exercise and i feel good at the thought that i am not contributing to the air crisis. But I feel we all should have the right to breath safer, cleaner air, especially if you care enough to take positive action to combat the problem.