I've been reflecting on this a lot today. The report makes v clear & direct recommendations for government and the medical profession, but I'm concerned about the message it sends out about individual responsibility for avoiding air pollution. THREAD https://twitter.com/Isabella_Kam/status/1384788263152541696

One of the points made by Ella's mum @rosamund_ElsFdn during the inquest was that she didn't know air pollution exacerbated Ella's asthma and provoked her attacks. Had she known, she told the court, she would have tried to reduce her daughter’s exposure

Obviously public awareness of the levels and dangers of air pollution is a good thing. Lack of understanding and complacency have to some extent led us to the health crisis we're in now. But there's such a limited amount many people can do to reduce their exposure

At a press conference earlier today, Prof Stephen Holgate heralded a future with a huge increase in air pollution monitoring, including places such as bus stops, so people can make informed decisions about where they live, where they shop and how they take their child to school

But many people simply have no control over where they live. They've been allocated social housing, or are renting or paying a mortgage at the limit of their finances. Many of the most polluted places in the country are the poorest - and homes with clean air now attract a premium

Meanwhile more people are living surrounded by homes with indoor stoves, which are poorly regulated, or outside burners, which aren't regulated at all. 'Addressing' this might at best mean a polite conversation with your neighbours. At worst, conflict or a nuisance case

In terms of travel choices, sure you can plan your trips on less polluted streets but that means more hassle and longer journeys. We're asking people to go out of their way to avoid being harmed.

There are definitely things you can do to breathe cleaner air, especially indoors, like stop burning anything, switching from a gas stove to electric, filling your house with plants and maybe using an air purifier. But you're still going to be affected by what others are doing

Why are we asking people to go out of their way to avoid pollution instead of tackling it at source? I'm thinking of all those children trying to learn in schools with illegal air pollution levels . Of elderly people and parents pushing babies down streets thick with fumes

And I can't help but wonder what would have happened if Rosamund couldn't have demonstrated her ignorance of air pollution at the time. Would the coroner have concluded that she should have moved house instead? Walked a mile out of her way to avoid the South Circular?

Making individuals responsible is another form of victim blaming. As a society we've got good at calling this out when it comes to things like sexual crimes and bullying. But we're terrible at blaming victims of environmental inequality. END