To be worried about this air pollution?

[floppops]

How come no one seems that interested in this pollution stuff?
Apparently it's the highest it's been for 60 years and can cause stinging eyes,coughs, sore throats etc..
I wouldn't worry that much for myself but I'm worried about taking my 3 week old baby out and my 4 year old. Apparently we should reduce physical activity?? Which means running madly about in the park might not be a good idea??
I don't want to be a mad paranoid parent..anyone else concerned ?(about the kids mainly).

Isn't the recent spike due to sand from the Sahara being blown in?
I've heard it's going to get better by this weekend so I wouldn't worry too much. Where abouts are you? It's definitely worst in the SE.

I was just reading through the Metro's round-up of best April Fools' pranks and was laughing at this, not realising it was today's news... I'm no scientist but it does seem quite a concern if a good excuse to avoid exercise.

We're in London and the reading for our area is 8 which seems quite bad.
Yep it's the dust from the Sahara but apparently there are pollutants from Europe and here caught up in it too.
They haven't said anything about children only asthmatics, old people, people with heart/lung problems etc.
But I did read France was taking it more seriously and are organising free transport ( presumably so people don't have to spend so much time outdoors?)

I'm a bit worried about it too. We're in the North East and it does look quite foggy here, not as bad as some other areas though. It would be a day I'm dog walking so spending most of the day outside. I don't feel I can let anyone down so I guess I'll have to suck it up (hopefully not literally). DH is trying to avoid going outside because he has asthma, it's MIL's birthday today and we were going to go round for tea but she suggested we go at the weekend instead because she was worried about his health.

I am trying to stay indoors today because I have asthma. I'm in London, and it does look quite hazy here.

I wouldn't worry too much OP - I think it will be considerably better tomorrow. Perhaps just a quiet(er) day at home today?

it was an 8 here yesterday and no one noticed.

Hazy and weird here in Oxford.
DP was searching for Sahara sand on the top of the wheelie bin this morning.

Slight sting in the throat and I have increased contact lens awareness.

In London/SE here. It is definitely hazy. I could hardly see Canary Wharf from the train this morning. My car is covered in dust. I have both asthma and a heart condition (and am quite elderly) but I feel ok so far!

Yeah...it's a strange haze, innit?
Not quite fog, not quite dust... Fust?

I'm in the 10 zone with a dd with Brittle Asthma. Yep, I'm worried!

Oh dear dawn hope she's ok

My dd has a sports day today and I'm wondering if this is why her asthma has flared up a bit. She started coughing out if nowhere at the weekend and she's been so much better the past yr that this was unexpected (although hundreds times better than before still)

Thanks Giles we're okay so far, apparently it'll be significantly worse around fourish. Hope your dd is okay.

I was out this morning and couldn't stop coughing, although no obvious dust in the air. I had to take my inhaler.

Hope your DD is ok Dawndonnaagain

Oh bugger, Dawn.

What are you doing? Windows shut? Will using a plant mister in your house help? You know, to trap the bigger particulate bits and carry them to the floor.

Thanks dawn I think we are in an 8 zone (rubbish geography emoticon)

I just picked up a brand new inhaler so fingers crossed.

Hope everyone here is ok. Also worried about my DM who suffers badly with asthma.

Am keeping fingers crossed for everyone!

Ahhhh I wonder if that's what it was!!

On Sunday morning we woke up to filthy cars even though DH had washed them the day before. It rained on Saturday night and every car we saw had a layer of sandy dust on it and we wondered why...

Maybe the Sahara could be the answer! We're in the South West.

When my lounge has a carpet of sand then I'll start worrying. But all this scaremongering just makes people put fingers in ears and go la la la la la. Which is a pity because it might even be a real issue. I expect it will be that fracking business causing it all.

Sorry I didn't see people with Asthma and breathing problems. Must think before posting. I apologise.

You're alright, Vivienne your post just made me laugh and to some extent you have a valid point.

Mini we have the air purifier that we use when the pollen is bad, so we're going with that and hoping!

Corus I love trees ejaculating indiscriminately!

I have hayfever and dd brought a cough and cold home last week which she very kindly shared with me.
I am suffering today, really sore eyes and coughing, runny nose etc. Luckily its a day off but I have done nothing today.
Hopefully it will be better tomorrow, without the cold I think I would be fine.

I'm in an 8 zone in Derby. My DP's been badly affected by it, no asthma just a poor chest from a childhood of living with chain smokers, he was having trouble breathing all night and into this morning. He was amused when he called me at lunch time because he's out today at a first aid refresher certificate course for work and has been given tips by them on how to cope with it (something about leaning back to get more air flow?). One of the best places to be if something happens, I guess.

I used to live in the Canary Islands which get covered in Sahara dust quite regularly. It's not really any worse than normal pollution, and it'll stop soon.

Thankfully we are up north and just on the line of where they are predicting it being a problem - although encough for the cars to be coated in dust - so I am just keeping a close eye on DS just because he has severe asthma which doesn't take much to trigger it