BELFAST schoolchildren have called on politicians to take "urgent action" on air pollution for their future health.
Children from Brooklands PS in Dundonald joined forces with the British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland (BHF NI) to urge MLAs to help clean up polluted air.
The BHF NI and Irish Heart Foundation secured funding to promote the need for cross-border collaboration to improve air quality across Ireland.
As part of the project, Brooklands PS received an air pollution monitor and its P7 class was able to track pollution levels outside school over four months, whilst learning about the impact that air pollution has on health.
Through poetry, song and artwork, the children presented their work at the BHF NI’s 'Act on Air Pollution' event held in Stormont, which highlighted the charity's call for the first Clean Air Strategy.
It wants urgent action to help improve air quality and reduce the number of avoidable deaths associated with air pollution.
The BHF has funded at least £5.8m into medical research that showed high levels of air pollution can have a harmful effect on health, increasing the risk of a potentially fatal heart attack or stroke.
This research has shown that particulate matter (PM), tiny particles in air not visible to the naked eye, can remain in the bloodstream for at least three months and can worsen the build-up of fatty materials inside the arteries, increase blood clotting and potentially affect the normal electrical functioning of the heart.
BHF NI has previously warned that heart and circulatory disease deaths on the island of Ireland attributable to air pollution could reach 12,000 in the decade to 2030.
Fearghal McKinney of BHF NI said: "Make no mistake - our toxic air is a public health emergency.
"Thanks to the children of Brooklands Primary School, our event offered a fresh perspective on this major public health challenge.
"We now need to see immediate and bold action across government departments.
"The forthcoming first Clean Air Strategy for Northern Ireland from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs should be delivered with urgency, and must include a commitment to World Health Organization guidelines on particulate matter.
"The power is in the hands of decision makers to take action now and help reduce the public’s health risk from air pollution."
Jeremy Armstrong, principal of Brooklands PS, added: "The children enjoyed coming up with creative ways of presenting their findings to our assembly members and hope this will encourage politicians to take action for their future health.
"The children have been empowered and energised by learning that they can do their bit to improve and protect their local community."
