Bristol University collaborates with Chideock group to tackle air pollution issues
Chideock: Bristol University is teaming up with the Chideock Air Quality Working Group. They’ve been working together since May last year. Their goal is to study pollution from traffic on the A35 road that goes through the village.
Professor Dudley Shallcross, an expert in Atmospheric Chemistry, noted that Chideock has the worst air pollution in the UK. This has led to more research on the high levels of particulate matter in the area.
To monitor the pollution, diffusion tubes have been set up around the village. These tubes measure particulate matter caused by traffic. Soon, two larger monitors will be installed to provide hourly updates on air quality.
George Dunn, a campaigner, explained that the diffusion tubes collect pollution data over a month. The new monitors will give real-time readings, which is a big step forward. This will help the community understand the air quality day by day.
Dunn also mentioned the health risks linked to air pollution, like Alzheimer’s. Having consistent data will help them raise awareness and push for action from authorities.
The community has been advocating for a bypass since the 1990s. Current UK regulations state that PM10 levels should not exceed certain limits. They hope this new data will strengthen their case for change.
