Informing the Public about Air Pollution

Publisher Summary This chapter provides suggestions on informing the public about air pollution. Providing the public with information about levels of air pollution should be an integral part of any air quality strategy. Such information should be accurate, accessible, and provided in a form that is easily understood. Air pollution information can be provided in a number of tiers of increasing complexity and detail. This should both enable the lay public to take on board relevant air pollution information, and at the same time give air pollution specialists access to increasingly disaggregated data sets, including raw data sets for those interested to use in their own data analysis. In addition, air pollution information can be provided in different formats and over different time frames ranging from real-time data via the electronic media to publications in the form of periodic or annual reports, or occasional publicity material such as leaflets. Such information should be up to date and should include forecasts for the following day or days so that individuals can take steps: to avoid the effects of pollution and to reduce activities that lead to raised levels of pollution. Many countries provide such advice.