Breathe London
Engaging primary school children to monitor air pollution in London
Exposure to air pollution is a public health concern accountable for wide ranging health problems and tens of thousands of premature deaths each year in the UK. Children are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of air pollution. More than 250 children across the five schools were given wearable sensors to carry to and from school for a period of five school days. Throughout this project, the participating children had access to air quality educational lessons delivered by King’s College London’s air quality scientists and Dyson engineers. During this study, children became ‘scientists’ too by helping measure air pollution using special backpacks with state-of-the-art air quality sensors inside. This study actively engaged the children in scientific investigation, improving literacy and nurturing their curiosity in science, the environment and their health.