The European Environment Agency (EEA) and the heads of the national environmental protection agencies launched on Monday 27 May a scientific and civic initiative to promote air quality around schools in Europe.
Called ‘cleanAirSchool’, this initiative mobilises science, schools, pupils, parents and teachers to monitor air quality around schools. All participants will measure nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations by placing one sampler along the road in front of the school and another in a less polluted area such as the schoolyard. These devices are “reliable, simple and inexpensive”, says the EEA in a statement.
Through this initiative, EEA hopes not only to raise public awareness of air quality issues, but also to explore how the data collected could complement official air quality data. Its last report on air quality in Europe, published in October 2018, showed that most Europeans living in urban areas were still exposed to pollutant levels above WHO guidelines, with particulate matter, NO2 and ground-level ozone being the most harmful to health (see EUROPE 12127/6). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)