John Wenger
@johnwenger9.bsky.social
Professor of Chemistry
University College Cork
Atmospheric scientist, clean air advocate
University College Cork
Atmospheric scientist, clean air advocate
Good thread explaining a novel measurement based approach for assessing the risk of airborne transmission of infectious diseases.
The risk of the airborne transmission of disease correlates with the amount of infectious exhaled aerosol. Since people exhale CO2 with aerosol, its conc has been used as proxy for exhaled aerosol
In this article, researchers propose a new way to estimate risk of transmission
In this article, researchers propose a new way to estimate risk of transmission
February 8, 2026 at 9:15 AM
Good thread explaining a novel measurement based approach for assessing the risk of airborne transmission of infectious diseases.
Reposted by John Wenger
Alpine areas are heating up faster than the rest of the planet: all the cities that staged the #WinterGames since 1950 have heated up in the years since by an average of 2.7C, according to scientists. That’s well above 1.4C, the warming average for the entire planet www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
Winter Olympics Faces New Climate Reality
Unpredictable conditions are limiting where it’s physically and financially possible to host the Winter Olympics.
www.bloomberg.com
February 4, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Alpine areas are heating up faster than the rest of the planet: all the cities that staged the #WinterGames since 1950 have heated up in the years since by an average of 2.7C, according to scientists. That’s well above 1.4C, the warming average for the entire planet www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
Air pollution particles don't just enter your lungs, they attach themselves to red blood cells and move around the whole body.
We don't breathe them out, so pollution accumulates in the body causing organ damage, dementia and more.
Reduce emissions and clear the air.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
We don't breathe them out, so pollution accumulates in the body causing organ damage, dementia and more.
Reduce emissions and clear the air.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
I inhaled traffic fumes to find out where air pollution goes in my body
BBC health correspondent James Gallagher gets his blood analysed to understand how air pollution is killing us.
www.bbc.com
February 7, 2026 at 6:45 PM
Air pollution particles don't just enter your lungs, they attach themselves to red blood cells and move around the whole body.
We don't breathe them out, so pollution accumulates in the body causing organ damage, dementia and more.
Reduce emissions and clear the air.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
We don't breathe them out, so pollution accumulates in the body causing organ damage, dementia and more.
Reduce emissions and clear the air.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
New research paper on transmission of respiratory viruses in schools.
Results - extended periods spent in poorly ventilated classrooms are a stronger driver of within-school transmission than individual contact rates.
Solution - monitor air quality and ensure classrooms are well ventilated.
Results - extended periods spent in poorly ventilated classrooms are a stronger driver of within-school transmission than individual contact rates.
Solution - monitor air quality and ensure classrooms are well ventilated.
Our paper modelling transmission risk in schools is published in Nature Communications. **The relative contribution of close-proximity contacts, shared classroom exposure and indoor air quality to respiratory virus transmission in schools** doi.org/10.1038/s414...
February 6, 2026 at 6:28 AM
New research paper on transmission of respiratory viruses in schools.
Results - extended periods spent in poorly ventilated classrooms are a stronger driver of within-school transmission than individual contact rates.
Solution - monitor air quality and ensure classrooms are well ventilated.
Results - extended periods spent in poorly ventilated classrooms are a stronger driver of within-school transmission than individual contact rates.
Solution - monitor air quality and ensure classrooms are well ventilated.
Reposted by John Wenger
What a wildly stupid idea.
Mandatory helmets and high viz is a proven remedy to reduce the number of people cycling. It effectively kills off things like Dublin Bikes.
That's why no other EU country does anything like this. Pure madness.
Mandatory helmets and high viz is a proven remedy to reduce the number of people cycling. It effectively kills off things like Dublin Bikes.
That's why no other EU country does anything like this. Pure madness.
All bicycles included in draft plan for mandatory helmets and high-vis, Department confirms irishcycle.com/2026/02/04/a...
All bicycles included in draft plan for mandatory helmets and high-vis, Department confirms
— Plan was expected to be put to the Cabinet today before it was withdrawn from the meeting of Government Ministers. A reported plan by Ireland’s Government to make the wearing of helme…
irishcycle.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:19 PM
What a wildly stupid idea.
Mandatory helmets and high viz is a proven remedy to reduce the number of people cycling. It effectively kills off things like Dublin Bikes.
That's why no other EU country does anything like this. Pure madness.
Mandatory helmets and high viz is a proven remedy to reduce the number of people cycling. It effectively kills off things like Dublin Bikes.
That's why no other EU country does anything like this. Pure madness.
Air pollution joins Europe’s list of cancer risks.
Limit your exposure by choosing public transport, walking or cycling instead of driving, opting for low-traffic routes when exercising outdoors, keeping homes free of smoke by avoiding the burning of coal or wood
airqualitynews.com/headlines/ai...
Limit your exposure by choosing public transport, walking or cycling instead of driving, opting for low-traffic routes when exercising outdoors, keeping homes free of smoke by avoiding the burning of coal or wood
airqualitynews.com/headlines/ai...
Air pollution joins Europe’s list of cancer risks
Air pollution has today (4th February) been formally recognised as a cancer risk in Europe for the first time, after being added to the European Code Against Cancer. The update appears in the fifth ed...
airqualitynews.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:57 PM
Air pollution joins Europe’s list of cancer risks.
Limit your exposure by choosing public transport, walking or cycling instead of driving, opting for low-traffic routes when exercising outdoors, keeping homes free of smoke by avoiding the burning of coal or wood
airqualitynews.com/headlines/ai...
Limit your exposure by choosing public transport, walking or cycling instead of driving, opting for low-traffic routes when exercising outdoors, keeping homes free of smoke by avoiding the burning of coal or wood
airqualitynews.com/headlines/ai...
Smoky coal is still being used in Cork despite the nationwide ban being introduced in 2022!
It seems that local authorities need more resources from government for effective enforcement of the legislation.
www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster...
It seems that local authorities need more resources from government for effective enforcement of the legislation.
www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster...
Illegal smoky coal and wet wood still being sold in Cork despite 2022 ban
Council inspectors target wholesale fuel suppliers as councillors warn illegal smoky coal is still harming vulnerable communities
www.irishexaminer.com
February 3, 2026 at 11:40 AM
Smoky coal is still being used in Cork despite the nationwide ban being introduced in 2022!
It seems that local authorities need more resources from government for effective enforcement of the legislation.
www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster...
It seems that local authorities need more resources from government for effective enforcement of the legislation.
www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster...
Delighted to be part of this big and ambitious new project to improve air quality and protect public health across Ireland and Northern Ireland.
PEACE-Air is the first ever all-island Partnership for Evidence and Action on Clean Air.
www.ucc.ie/en/chemistry...
PEACE-Air is the first ever all-island Partnership for Evidence and Action on Clean Air.
www.ucc.ie/en/chemistry...
School of Chemistry researchers play leading role in new €6.5 Million all-island project for improving air quality | University College Cork
Learn, Study and Research in UCC, Ireland's first 5 star university. Our tradition of independent thinking will prepare you for the world and the workplace in a vibrant, modern, green campus.
www.ucc.ie
January 24, 2026 at 8:51 AM
Delighted to be part of this big and ambitious new project to improve air quality and protect public health across Ireland and Northern Ireland.
PEACE-Air is the first ever all-island Partnership for Evidence and Action on Clean Air.
www.ucc.ie/en/chemistry...
PEACE-Air is the first ever all-island Partnership for Evidence and Action on Clean Air.
www.ucc.ie/en/chemistry...
Reposted by John Wenger
Flu is spreading earlier than last year, with children heavily impacted.
We call on the Minister for Education and the HSE to update public health advice to schools to account for airborne transmission of flu.
Press release is available here: www.cleanairadvocacyireland.org/clean-air-bl...
We call on the Minister for Education and the HSE to update public health advice to schools to account for airborne transmission of flu.
Press release is available here: www.cleanairadvocacyireland.org/clean-air-bl...
November 30, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Flu is spreading earlier than last year, with children heavily impacted.
We call on the Minister for Education and the HSE to update public health advice to schools to account for airborne transmission of flu.
Press release is available here: www.cleanairadvocacyireland.org/clean-air-bl...
We call on the Minister for Education and the HSE to update public health advice to schools to account for airborne transmission of flu.
Press release is available here: www.cleanairadvocacyireland.org/clean-air-bl...
New research provides further evidence for the importance of clean air in classrooms.
"Prolonged exposure in shared, poorly ventilated spaces, which potentially includes several infectious sources, drives respiratory virus transmission more than close contact"
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
"Prolonged exposure in shared, poorly ventilated spaces, which potentially includes several infectious sources, drives respiratory virus transmission more than close contact"
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The relative contribution of close-proximity contacts, shared classroom exposure and indoor air quality to respiratory virus transmission in schools - Nature Communications
The relative importance of close-proximity interactions, shared space and air quality to the transmission of respiratory viruses is not well understood. Here, the authors investigate this question by ...
www.nature.com
November 29, 2025 at 7:04 AM
New research provides further evidence for the importance of clean air in classrooms.
"Prolonged exposure in shared, poorly ventilated spaces, which potentially includes several infectious sources, drives respiratory virus transmission more than close contact"
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
"Prolonged exposure in shared, poorly ventilated spaces, which potentially includes several infectious sources, drives respiratory virus transmission more than close contact"
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Cork needs more green spaces. Sign the petition to turn a derelict site into a park.
🚨 Petition: Turn the O Sullivans Quay derelict site into the only city centre public park
"Please consider signing this petition. I have had a motion before Cork City Council that this happen."
- Cllr Dan Boyle
"Please consider signing this petition. I have had a motion before Cork City Council that this happen."
- Cllr Dan Boyle
Sign the Petition
Turn the O Sullivans Quay derelict site into the only city centre public park
www.change.org
November 24, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Cork needs more green spaces. Sign the petition to turn a derelict site into a park.
This all sounds too familiar...government agency stating bird flu is not airborne despite evidence to the contrary.
NEW: We traced out a devastating outbreak of bird flu to its source: an egg farm in Ohio. Where the wind blew, the virus followed.
Within weeks, the farms downwind were about 20 times as likely to see outbreaks as those that weren’t.
Within weeks, the farms downwind were about 20 times as likely to see outbreaks as those that weren’t.
What the U.S. Government Is Dismissing That Could Seed a Bird Flu Pandemic
Egg producers suspect bird flu is traveling through the air. After a disastrous Midwestern outbreak early this year, we tested that theory and found that where the wind blew, the virus followed. Vaccines could help, but the USDA hasn’t approved them.
www.propublica.org
November 18, 2025 at 10:59 PM
This all sounds too familiar...government agency stating bird flu is not airborne despite evidence to the contrary.
This is just miserable...
Nothing is safe trom Trump:
The Buddy Holly crosswalk in his hometown of Lubbock, Texas will be removed to comply with a directive from the Trump regime to rid the public roadways of any political messages or artwork.
The Buddy Holly crosswalk in his hometown of Lubbock, Texas will be removed to comply with a directive from the Trump regime to rid the public roadways of any political messages or artwork.
Buddy Holly crosswalk in his Texas hometown to be removed following order on road safety
“It’s such a tasteful cross section and people like it. But what do you do?” City Council Member Christy Martinez-Garcia said of the crosswalk that depicts Holly's iconic glasses.
www.nbcnews.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:01 PM
This is just miserable...
Reposted by John Wenger
We thought it would be fun to run a campaign to share your air quality readings using #FridayAirday on Fridays! Help us create awareness of the importance of indoor/outdoor air quality by capturing an image of your CO2 monitor in whatever contexts you want to share. Some examples below. #CleanTheAir
November 13, 2025 at 9:28 PM
We thought it would be fun to run a campaign to share your air quality readings using #FridayAirday on Fridays! Help us create awareness of the importance of indoor/outdoor air quality by capturing an image of your CO2 monitor in whatever contexts you want to share. Some examples below. #CleanTheAir
What a great range of activities planned by @greenschoolsire.bsky.social for Clean Air Week!
Specially designed challenges & activities for primary & secondary schools.
I am pleased to contribute in a small way to the programme content.
@antaisce.bsky.social
greenschoolsireland.org/clean-air-we...
Specially designed challenges & activities for primary & secondary schools.
I am pleased to contribute in a small way to the programme content.
@antaisce.bsky.social
greenschoolsireland.org/clean-air-we...
Clean Air Week 2025
The aim of the Marine Spatial Planning Photo Competition is to find out how you would like to see our ocean and marine environments being used in the future.
greenschoolsireland.org
November 11, 2025 at 6:43 PM
What a great range of activities planned by @greenschoolsire.bsky.social for Clean Air Week!
Specially designed challenges & activities for primary & secondary schools.
I am pleased to contribute in a small way to the programme content.
@antaisce.bsky.social
greenschoolsireland.org/clean-air-we...
Specially designed challenges & activities for primary & secondary schools.
I am pleased to contribute in a small way to the programme content.
@antaisce.bsky.social
greenschoolsireland.org/clean-air-we...
Reposted by John Wenger
COVID-19 remains unrecognised as an occupational illness in Ireland. The argument is that it's too difficult to prove an infection source, as COVID-19 is so pervasive in our communities. This is an admission of failure and not a justifiable excuse. #cleantheair #cleanairforall
November 3, 2025 at 10:33 AM
COVID-19 remains unrecognised as an occupational illness in Ireland. The argument is that it's too difficult to prove an infection source, as COVID-19 is so pervasive in our communities. This is an admission of failure and not a justifiable excuse. #cleantheair #cleanairforall
Reposted by John Wenger
I've finally got around to curating a selection of films about the #climate crisis 🎥
There's lot of mediocre climate films out there, but for me these stand out head & shoulders above the rest 🎞️
They make excellent resources for classrooms, lecture halls, or community cinema's 🎬
Thread:🧵Plz RT
There's lot of mediocre climate films out there, but for me these stand out head & shoulders above the rest 🎞️
They make excellent resources for classrooms, lecture halls, or community cinema's 🎬
Thread:🧵Plz RT
November 1, 2025 at 10:17 AM
I've finally got around to curating a selection of films about the #climate crisis 🎥
There's lot of mediocre climate films out there, but for me these stand out head & shoulders above the rest 🎞️
They make excellent resources for classrooms, lecture halls, or community cinema's 🎬
Thread:🧵Plz RT
There's lot of mediocre climate films out there, but for me these stand out head & shoulders above the rest 🎞️
They make excellent resources for classrooms, lecture halls, or community cinema's 🎬
Thread:🧵Plz RT
Great thread on societal questioning around science.
Key message for me is that the burden of proof lies with the challengers and not with those in mainstream science where things like man-made climate change are proven and widely accepted by the experts.
Key message for me is that the burden of proof lies with the challengers and not with those in mainstream science where things like man-made climate change are proven and widely accepted by the experts.
“Science is never settled” sounds reasonable—but it’s often a rhetorical trick to undermine consensus on issues like vaccines or climate change.
Science evolves, but some things are overwhelmingly supported by evidence.
My latest for Live Science
www.livescience.com/...
1/10
Science evolves, but some things are overwhelmingly supported by evidence.
My latest for Live Science
www.livescience.com/...
1/10
There is such a thing as 'settled science' — anyone who says otherwise is trying to manipulate you
How bad-faith arguments sow doubt by weaponizing scientific humility.
www.livescience.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Great thread on societal questioning around science.
Key message for me is that the burden of proof lies with the challengers and not with those in mainstream science where things like man-made climate change are proven and widely accepted by the experts.
Key message for me is that the burden of proof lies with the challengers and not with those in mainstream science where things like man-made climate change are proven and widely accepted by the experts.
Nice to see our TownAir project covered in the @independent.ie
We installed a low cost sensor network in Enniscorthy, a town in Ireland with a history of wintertime air pollution.
The network shows how pollution from solid fuel burning varies across the town
www.independent.ie/regionals/we...
We installed a low cost sensor network in Enniscorthy, a town in Ireland with a history of wintertime air pollution.
The network shows how pollution from solid fuel burning varies across the town
www.independent.ie/regionals/we...
Air quality monitors installed in Enniscorthy after years of alarming air pollution
A network of air quality monitors have been installed around Enniscorthy town as part of a UCC and University of Galway research project on emissions called TownAir.
www.independent.ie
October 23, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Nice to see our TownAir project covered in the @independent.ie
We installed a low cost sensor network in Enniscorthy, a town in Ireland with a history of wintertime air pollution.
The network shows how pollution from solid fuel burning varies across the town
www.independent.ie/regionals/we...
We installed a low cost sensor network in Enniscorthy, a town in Ireland with a history of wintertime air pollution.
The network shows how pollution from solid fuel burning varies across the town
www.independent.ie/regionals/we...
A home fire might look nice and feel cozy but wood burning costs lives and the economy.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Wood burners linked to 2,500 deaths a year in the UK, analysis finds
Use of wood-burning stoves and fires in homes is mostly unnecessary and their toxic pollution costs the NHS millions
www.theguardian.com
October 23, 2025 at 6:49 AM
A home fire might look nice and feel cozy but wood burning costs lives and the economy.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Really looking forward to meeting old and new colleagues at the Aerosol Society Conference in York next week.
I'll be talking about our air pollution research and how it informed the recent updates to the solid fuel regulations in Ireland.
@uccresearch.bsky.social @epaireland.bsky.social
@ucc.ie
I'll be talking about our air pollution research and how it informed the recent updates to the solid fuel regulations in Ireland.
@uccresearch.bsky.social @epaireland.bsky.social
@ucc.ie
Come along to the annual UK and Ireland Aerosol Society Conference in the beautiful Guildhall in York on the 28th-29th October. Lots of exciting talks and keynotes from Hugh Coe, @johnwenger9.bsky.social and @chiaragiorio.bsky.social
aerosol-soc.com/events/annua...
aerosol-soc.com/events/annua...
October 21, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Really looking forward to meeting old and new colleagues at the Aerosol Society Conference in York next week.
I'll be talking about our air pollution research and how it informed the recent updates to the solid fuel regulations in Ireland.
@uccresearch.bsky.social @epaireland.bsky.social
@ucc.ie
I'll be talking about our air pollution research and how it informed the recent updates to the solid fuel regulations in Ireland.
@uccresearch.bsky.social @epaireland.bsky.social
@ucc.ie
From Wales...Even more evidence to show that...
Lower speed limits for road vehicles in urban areas = less road injuries, less pollution and lower insurance costs.
Reducing urban speed limits to 30 km/h is a no-brainer from a policy perspective.
www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bbc....
Lower speed limits for road vehicles in urban areas = less road injuries, less pollution and lower insurance costs.
Reducing urban speed limits to 30 km/h is a no-brainer from a policy perspective.
www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bbc....
Nearly 900 fewer people injured since 20mph introduction in Wales - BBC News
Figures show a 25% reduction in the number of injuries on Wales' roads in the past 18 months.
www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org
October 9, 2025 at 9:59 PM
From Wales...Even more evidence to show that...
Lower speed limits for road vehicles in urban areas = less road injuries, less pollution and lower insurance costs.
Reducing urban speed limits to 30 km/h is a no-brainer from a policy perspective.
www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bbc....
Lower speed limits for road vehicles in urban areas = less road injuries, less pollution and lower insurance costs.
Reducing urban speed limits to 30 km/h is a no-brainer from a policy perspective.
www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bbc....
The lack of fresh air on airplanes increases the risk of infection from covid and other airborne diseases. Wear a decent respirator on flights and other forms of transport, e.g. long bus/train journeys, for protection.
I am concerned about the poor air quality apparent inside aeroplane cabins, which are after all workplaces (for cabin crew and pilots).
I was on a Ryanair flight ex-Bari (Puglia/Apulia) last Wednesday and as always, when I am on-board a plane, I monitor the carbon dioxide concentration in the
I was on a Ryanair flight ex-Bari (Puglia/Apulia) last Wednesday and as always, when I am on-board a plane, I monitor the carbon dioxide concentration in the
Code of Practice for Indoor Air Quality
The Code of Practice is implemented through S.I. No. 255/2023 - Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) (Amendment) Regulations 2023.
tinyurl.com
October 3, 2025 at 11:49 PM
The lack of fresh air on airplanes increases the risk of infection from covid and other airborne diseases. Wear a decent respirator on flights and other forms of transport, e.g. long bus/train journeys, for protection.
Reposted by John Wenger
Here I am in 2020 in the flimsiest, most pitful PPE - like so many other NHS staff, some of whom died from the Covid they caught in their hospitals.
Tory peer Michelle Mone - who today lost her legal case & must repay the govt £122m - dares to claim she’s been ‘scapegoated’.
What, Michelle? 🧵
Tory peer Michelle Mone - who today lost her legal case & must repay the govt £122m - dares to claim she’s been ‘scapegoated’.
What, Michelle? 🧵
October 1, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Here I am in 2020 in the flimsiest, most pitful PPE - like so many other NHS staff, some of whom died from the Covid they caught in their hospitals.
Tory peer Michelle Mone - who today lost her legal case & must repay the govt £122m - dares to claim she’s been ‘scapegoated’.
What, Michelle? 🧵
Tory peer Michelle Mone - who today lost her legal case & must repay the govt £122m - dares to claim she’s been ‘scapegoated’.
What, Michelle? 🧵
Reposted by John Wenger
We have a new PhD project to study ozone formation from fires. If interested in atmospheric chemistry, fires, living in Zurich, and studying at ETH, consider applying here: jobs.ethz.ch/job/view/JOP...
PhD Position in Atmospheric Chemistry
jobs.ethz.ch
September 30, 2025 at 8:08 AM
We have a new PhD project to study ozone formation from fires. If interested in atmospheric chemistry, fires, living in Zurich, and studying at ETH, consider applying here: jobs.ethz.ch/job/view/JOP...