The UK government launched a new air quality alerts service on 27 August 2026, enabling people across the country to sign up for SMS or email notifications when air pollution is forecast to be high in areas of their choosing — such as their home, workplace or a local park.

The opt-in service monitors five key pollutants: Particulate Matter (PM2.5), Particulate Matter (PM10), Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), Ozone (O3) and Sulphur dioxide (SO2). Users can select specific locations and receive alerts based on up-to-date forecasts, with all information accessible through GOV.UK.

The launch fulfils a commitment made in the government's Environmental Improvement Plan to improve public access to air pollution data. Wider government action referenced alongside the service includes reforms to industrial permitting and a consultation on tightening emissions standards for new wood-burning appliances.

Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle said the service would make it easier for people to understand local air pollution levels and "take practical steps to protect their health, particularly those living with conditions such as asthma." She framed better access to air quality information as part of the government's broader effort to tackle air pollution and protect public health.

Chief Medical Officer for England Professor Sir Chris Whitty described air pollution as "an extremely important, solvable health problem" with effects spanning the full course of life, from poor pregnancy outcomes and childhood lung disease to long-term conditions including cancers, heart disease and stroke. He identified children, pregnant women and people with pre-existing cardiovascular or lung conditions as the groups most vulnerable to its effects, and said timely information could help people make informed decisions about their activities.

The government noted that millions of people live with conditions worsened by poor air quality and that treating lung conditions and asthma costs the NHS millions of pounds each year.

Several verified sources, together with artificial intelligence, were used in the preparation of this article. The content was reviewed by our editorial team prior to publication. Disclosure provided in accordance with Article 50 of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act).