Air Quality Survey Carried Out by Schoolchildren: An Innovative Tool for Urban Planning

An educational project on biological monitoring of air quality was launched in 2004 to involve about 650 young students (age 6 to 16) from 21 schools of nine municipalities in Tuscany (Central Italy) in active detection of the crucial pollutant ozone with indicator sensitive tobacco seedlings. Resul...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental monitoring and assessment Vol. 131; no. 1-3; pp. 201 - 210
Main Authors: Nali, Cristina, Lorenzini, Giacomo
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Dordrect Dordrecht : Kluwer Academic Publishers 01.08.2007
Springer
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:
Adolescent
Air pollution
Air Pollution - analysis
Air quality
Analysis methods
Applied sciences
Assessments
Atmospheric pollution
Biological monitoring
Biomonitoring
Child
City Planning
Diffusion of Innovation
Education
Environmental education
Environmental monitoring
Environmental Monitoring - methods
Environmental quality
Exact sciences and technology
Humans
indicator species
Indicators
Italy
landscapes
monitoring
Outdoor air quality
Ozone
Ozone - analysis
Pilot projects
Pollutants
Pollution
Pollution detection
Rural areas
school children
Schools
Seedlings
Students
Studies
surveys
teachers
Tobacco
Urban planning
Italy
Europe
Tuscany
Italy, Tuscany
Indicator plants
Urban planning
Biological indicator
Ozone
Air quality
Urban area
Nicotiana tabacum
Environmental management
Biological monitoring
Seedlings
School
Tobacco
Biomonitoring, Environmental education,Environmental quality
Education
Dicotyledones
Angiospermae
Active detection
Air pollution
Spermatophyta
Solanaceae
ISSN:0167-6369, 1573-2959
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:An educational project on biological monitoring of air quality was launched in 2004 to involve about 650 young students (age 6 to 16) from 21 schools of nine municipalities in Tuscany (Central Italy) in active detection of the crucial pollutant ozone with indicator sensitive tobacco seedlings. Results implied the reading of 9,300 raw biological figures and were fortified by the data captured by six photometric analysers. Under the guidance of their teachers, the students had several opportunities to practice with many basic and applied study areas and were initiated into the scientific method in a simple and absorbing manner. Curiosity and involvement were widespread; a sort of emotional and responsible relationship was developed by several pupils. Though primarily an educational exercise, the survey introduced a research element and the regional picture of air pollution that emerged has increased our knowledge of the air quality situation in the area. Biological monitoring of air quality is a powerful tool to improve the awareness and involvement in key topics of environmental education. In addition, it represents a crucial element for improving the awareness of problems and implies the active participation of citizens in the assessment of several indicators of the state of the environment. Its potential as a robust implement in landscape and urban planning is noteworthy.
Bibliography:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10661-006-9468-2
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ISSN:0167-6369
1573-2959
DOI:10.1007/s10661-006-9468-2