Cyclist's mission to measure city air quality
Al Pagan, a Bike Worcester volunteer, has fitted a SmogOff device to his bicycle that measures nitrogen oxides and particulate matter - a mixture of solid and liquid particles suspended in the air.
Alongside Bike Buses across the city, he has been gathering readings on some of Worcester's busiest streets during rush-hour traffic.
The data collected will be used to complement the city council's air quality management projects.
The monitor is designed as a stationary device but the sensors take readings often enough that useful data has been collected, Mr Pagan said.
He added: "They say you breathe in just as much pollution if you're sat in the car and most of us at Bike Worcester are car drivers too, so this is something that affects us all."
Worcester MP Tom Collins, said: "Air quality is a huge issue in Worcester, especially for our young people, who tell me that they see it damaging the environment and their own health.
This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.
Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Two city areas over nitrogen dioxide legal limits
New air quality plan for city discussed
Charity's playground air pollution warning
Bike Worcester
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Opinion/Guest column: Health care cuts bode ill for Central Mass. economy
Consistent with the old maxim that all politics is local, it is also true that all policy is local. Whether on Capitol Hill or Beacon Hill, policies that lawmakers enact inevitably have repercussions — for good or bad — on communities such as Worcester. Sadly, the local impacts of Congress' enactment of President Trump's so-called 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' and of the White House's pending proposal to slash National Institutes of Health funding by 40%, will be onerous. A great deal has been reported on the patient impact of these policies. Appropriately so, considering that the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the $1 trillion cuts to health care programs in the 'Beautiful Bill' will cause over 10 million people to lose health insurance coverage by 2034 and the near certainty that the administration's proposed NIH cuts will impede development of new treatments for patients with critical health conditions. Less obvious, but also important, are the potentially devastating impacts these policies will inflict on the Central Massachusetts economy. By targeting health care and scientific research, they will not only harm the largest employers and biggest drivers of the regional economy but will also have a ripple effect on sectors outside of health care or research. The leaders of this region's two largest employers, UMass Memorial Health and UMass Chan Medical School, have been outspoken about the dire consequences of massive federal cuts to their institutions. UMass Memorial expects to lose at least $100 million in Medicaid funding annually, and UMass Chan cites an expected $94 million shortfall in NIH grants in the upcoming fiscal year, on top of $42 million in grant disbursements already withheld by the Trump administration. Cuts of this magnitude will have a devastating impact on patients, employees and the public service missions of both institutions. These cuts will also affect workers and businesses in sectors that work regularly with medical, research and education institutions. The construction industry is a case in point. Hospitals and research institutions rely upon highly skilled electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians and other tradespeople to build, renovate and maintain complex facilities that adhere to the most stringent safety and health regulations. But as federal cuts cause some health services to be reduced and laboratories to close, construction and renovation projects will inevitably decline, impacting the livelihoods of tradespeople and construction firms. The same dynamic will replicate across other industries that provide supportive services to medical and research institutions, whether it be finance, legal, suppliers or countless others whose businesses rely, at least in part, on such work. Hard data back up this dynamic. In its 2025 annual analysis on the economic impact of NIH research, United for Medical Research reports that each $1 of NIH funding results in $2.56 of economic activity. So, when the federal government cuts research grants to Worcester research universities by an aggregate of tens or hundreds of millions of dollars, the secondary impact will hit businesses and workers well beyond the campuses of UMass Chan or WPI. Similar ripple effects will reverberate across the local economy when hospitals' finances are torpedoed by massive cuts to Medicaid and Medicare and rising volumes of uninsured patients. It is impossible to find a silver lining in policies that wreak such havoc on the engines of our local economy, and that feeling is exacerbated by the Congressional Budget Office's estimate that the 'Beautiful Bill' will also drive up the national deficit by $3.4 trillion. Nonetheless, it is imperative not to give up. Everyone impacted — patients, workers, businesses and institutional leaders — must speak up and remain engaged so future Congresses prioritize reversing these irrational policies. Jim Leary is an attorney and former state legislator from Worcester. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Opinion/Guest column: Health care cuts bode ill for regional economy
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Worcester health and human services commissioner to retire after 10 years
After 10 years of serving as Worcester's health and human services (HHS) commissioner, Dr. Matilde Castiel will retire on Sept. 30, City Manager Eric D. Batista announced on Monday. 'I am retiring after 10 years. It's not easy for me to say those words because this work, and this city, have been my heart for a decade,' Castiel said in a press release from Batista's office. 'I have had the extraordinary privilege of serving a community I love alongside people who inspire me every single day. Together, we have faced enormous challenges and built bold, beautiful solutions. I have seen what's possible when compassion leads, when equity guides, and when justice is more than a goal but truly is a practice.' Castiel immigrated from Cuba to the United States in 1962, according to the press release. For 36 years, she has worked as an internal medicine physician in Worcester, spending time at UMass Memorial Medical Center and Family Health Center of Worcester. She is also an associate professor of internal medicine, family medicine and psychiatry at the UMass Chan Medical School. In 2015, then City Manager Ed Augustus named Castiel to serve as the HHS commissioner. Castiel's appointment came at a time when Worcester reconstituted its HHS department, which was previously eliminated in 2009 as part of budget cuts. As HHS commissioner, Castiel helped establish the city's Housing First Coordinating Council, opioid task force and the mayor's mental health task force, the press release reads. Recently, she worked with UMass Chan Medical School to create the Worcester Integrated Health Data Exchange — a partnership among health care agencies that provide Worcester health data to help better understand health inequities, trends, risk factors and outcomes, according to the press release. 'I want to congratulate Dr. Castiel on an incredibly impactful tenure as a public servant to the City of Worcester,' Batista said in the press release. 'Her dedication to this community has truly been inspiring – from her work to institute a syringe exchange program to launching a Housing First Coordinating Council to her leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, running equity-based vaccination campaigns and shelters — she has proven herself as a compassionate problem solver and will leave a lasting legacy.' With Castiel departing, Batista's administration will 'explore' options for the role of HHS commissioner and will relay its plan before Castiel's departure, according to the press release. More Worcester Stories New Jersey man charged with assault in Fitchburg fatal shooting 2-year-old in critical condition after falling from Worcester window Disappointing jobs numbers mean 'this is Donald Trump's economy right now' say McGovern, Neal Read the original article on MassLive. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Yahoo
Vystar Introduces New RxAir-800 Replacement Cartridge Extended Life UV-C Bulb
New RxAir400 Pro UV-C bulb replacement cartridge provides 18,000 vs 9,000 hr. use. Worcester, MA, July 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With heightened concern about protection from harmful airborne viruses, Vystar Corporation's (OTCQB: VYST) RxAir®400 Germicidal Ultraviolet (UV-C) light air purification systems offers new features and options that will make it easier to treat airborne pathogens wherever you go indoors. RxAir400 is a smaller, consumer/small business-sized version of the industrial size Rx3000 FDA-certified Class II medical device UV light air purifier designed for disinfection use in hospitals. RxAir400 will now feature an ergonomic integrated handle for easier room-to-room portability, plus offer two new accessory options: - UV bulbs have limited life for germicidal effectiveness. RxAir units and bulb cartridges have interactive chips that communicate to alert users as the bulb approaches the end of life and needs to be replaced. RxAir 400 comes with its standard 9000 hr. UVC bulb cartridge good for approximately one year of regular use before requiring replacement. The new UVC Pro replacement cartridge has a lifespan of 18,000 hours, or approximately two years of normal use. Cartridges include free return and disposal of spent cartridges. – New low profile wall mount bracket makes it easier to put RxAir in an optimal location when traffic patterns and furniture layout are not conducive to floor placement. The low-profile bracket allows you to easily lift unit off the bracket to transport room to room to safely inactivate >99.9% of pathogens, reducing virus exposure risk in occupied facilities such as schools, restaurants, retail and offices. Vystar's new 18,000 hour cartridge is expected to be in stock in mid- to late Septmeber – just in time as students head back to school. 'A main advantage of RxAir is that it can operate safely in occupied spaces to continuously process the air up to eight times per hour, inactivating or killing the pathogens expelled as people talk, breathe, cough, sneeze or sing to help reduce risk of exposure for those in the room,' stated Bryan Stone, MD, Internal Medicine and Nephrology. 'When near people who aren't wearing masks and may be asymptomatic, it is reassuring to have RxAir treating pathogens they may be expelling.' 'Given the growing body of evidence that Coronavirus SARS CoV-2 may be transmitted through airborne means or aerosolization noted by the CDC1,2, and hundreds of scientists worldwide3,4,5, it is wise to address all modes of possible transmission,' Dr. Stone noted. 'We strongly encourage people to wear face masks and follow other CDC recommended surface and personal disinfection practices, along with using RxAir to decrease their pathogen exposure risk as much as possible.' 'RxAir400's ViraTech technology is one of the few UV light air purification technologies proven in EPA- and FDA-certified laboratory testing to inactivate more than 99.9% of airborne viruses (including multiple coronavirus strains), bacteria and other pathogens that cause pneumonia, influenza, MRSA (staph), streptococcus (strep throat), whooping cough, tuberculosis (TB), common cold, measles and a myriad of other antibiotic-resistant and viral infections,' Dr. Stone explained. 'Hospitals and healthcare facilities have been using ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) with UV-C light for airborne infection control for decades because it is so effective. It also reduces concentration of volatile organic compounds and odors as well as air pollution linked to sleep disorders.' Air Purifier Demand Projected to Skyrocket Grandview Research's report in July 2020 stated, 'The enforcement of lockdown across the countries globally has led to the increased demand for air purifiers in the past couple of months. Moreover, as air purifiers are effective against various viruses, the demand in several countries is expected to witness significant growth owing to the outbreak of COVID-19. Few manufacturers are claiming that their air purifiers are an ideal option for neutralizing as well as effectively controlling the spread of coronavirus. In addition, consumers are buying air purifiers across the globe as a precautionary measure to mitigate indoor air pollution and to clean indoor air to avoid the novel coronavirus infection.' Grandview estimated that the global air purifier market size was USD $8.04 billion in 2019 and is expected to register a CAGR of 10.8% through 2027. Market Research firm Arizton Advisory & Intelligence is even more optimistic and is projecting that the global portable air purifier market will grow at a CAGR of around 42% between 2019-2025 to reach $90 billion by 2025 due to 'exponential rise in demand for clean air, owing to the rising population levels coupled with growing respiratory issue and epidemic spread across the globe' Jamie Rotman CEO of Vystar stated, 'with 25,000 RXAIR units operating worldwide the demand for replacement cartridges has grown significantly. Residential users will change the cartridge annually, while commercial customers run the machines longer and require a cartridge change every six months providing a total market of 40,000 cartridge changes per year. The new extended life cartridge can cut that number in half, making production and sales more efficient for Vystar and the customer.' The original cartridge will continue to be priced at $199 while the longer life cartridge will have some cost savings at $375. Vystar is only selling these cartridges directly or through a few select distributors like McKesson Medical-Surgical.' Follow us on social media:Twitter: @VystarCompany @vytexContacts:VystarMedia & Investors: Jamie Rotman, jrotman@ Opportunities: info@ Investors or To Partner with Vystar, Company Phone Number: (508) 791-9114 or contact info@ or 508-791-9114 # # # Sources: 1 Centers for Disease Control (2020, April 29) Decontamination & Reuse of Filtering Facepiece Respirators. (Accessed July 21, 2020)2 Guo Z, Wang Z, Zhang S, et al. Aerosol and Surface Distribution of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Hospital Wards, Wuhan, China, 2020. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2020;26(7):1583-1591. doi:10.3201/eid2607.200885. (accessed July 14, 2020)3 Coffey, Donavyn, Does UV light kill the new coronavirus?, (July 12, 2020)Live Science, (Accessed July 14, 2020)4 Morawska, L. & Milton, D. It is Time to Address Airborne Transmission of COVID-19, Clinical Infectious Diseases, (2020) (accessed July 14, 2020)5 Lewis, Dyani, Mounting evidence suggests coronavirus is airborne — but health advice has not caught up, Nature, (accessed July 14, 2020)6Kowalski, (2013, June) Residential Application of the RxAir UV light Portable Air Purification Unit7 Kowalski, (2009, Dec. 1) Prediction of Virus Inactivation by the UV 4008 Kowalski, (2012, Jan20) Supplemental Air Purification for Hospitals and Health Care Facilities 9 Kowalski, Walsh, Petraitis (2020, March) 2020 COVID-19 Coronavirus Ultraviolet Susceptibility # # # About Vystar Corporation: Based in Worcester, Mass., Vystar® Corp. (OTCQB: VYST) is the majority owner of Rotmans Furniture and Carpet and environmentally friendly technologies and products to improve lives, such as RxAir® UV light air purification products, Vytex™ Natural Rubber Latex (NRL) and Fluid Energy Solutions. Vystar is the exclusive creator of Vytex, a multi-patented, all-natural, raw material that contains significantly reduced levels of the proteins found in natural rubber latex and can be used in over 40,000 products. Vytex NRL is a 100% renewable resource, environmentally safe, "green" and fully biodegradable. Vystar is working with manufacturers across a broad range of consumer and medical products bringing Vytex NRL to market in adhesives, gloves, balloons, condoms, other medical devices and natural rubber latex foam mattresses, toppers, and pillows. For more information, visit About Bryan Stone, MD Dr. Bryan Stone combines his medical expertise as a board certified internal medicine and nephrology physician with a keen understanding of technology and an aptitude for invention to develop market-changing technologies. Dr. Stone is Desert Regional Medical Center's Chief of Medicine, Medical Director of Davita Cathedral City Dialysis Clinic, as well as Medical Application Specialist for Fluid Energy Conversion, a green energy division of Vystar with patented disruptive technologies. Forward-looking Statements: Investors are cautioned that certain statements contained in this document as well as some statements in periodic press releases and some oral statements of VYST officials are "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). Forward-looking statements include statements which are predictive in nature, which depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, which include words such as "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "expects," and similar expressions. In addition, any statements concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, and possible future VYST actions, product development and delivery, which may be provided by management, are also forward-looking statements as defined by the Act. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and to vary significantly from reporting period to reporting period. Although management believes that the assumptions made and expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there is no assurance that the underlying assumptions will, in fact, prove to be correct or that actual future results will not be different from the expectations expressed in this report. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and VYST has no specific intention to update these statements.