Brussels citizens to measure air quality as part of major study

The Brussels region is planning to launch a major air quality project next year that will see 3,000 households measuring pollution levels in their streets. The health of some 200 schoolkids will also be monitored.

The region is working with a number of organisations and institutes on the project, including the citizens’ action group Bral, to install 3,000 sensors on homes across the region. The sensors will measure the levels of nitrogen dioxide in the air.

“It’s important to get a reliable overview of the problem,” Piet Van Meerbeek of Bral told Bruzz. “Only by knowing where the problems are can we do something about them. Hopefully, the results can also influence future policies.”

‘Hidden killer’

Antwerp University will be tasked with analysing the results, which will let the government know how many residents live in an area where the nitrogen dioxide levels exceed international standards. Volunteers will be sought to host a metre so that residents can be actively involved in the project. People can volunteer early next year, and the measurements will be taken during the month of October. Results should be known by the end of the year.

The project will also involve examining some 200 school children to see what health effects can be seen in kids who live or go to school (or both) in areas with high nitrogen dioxide concentrations, compared to kids who don’t.

Nitrogen dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere by motorised vehicles and industrial processes. It create fine particles that are breathed in and have been found to increase the chance of lung and heart conditions. According to Bral, a few hundred people a year die from this “hidden killer”.

Photo ©Benoit Doppagne/BELGA