Measuring together for a healthy living environment

Participants in the Exposome Panel study walk through their neighborhoods with measuring devices to measure air quality on their backpacks.

You probably don't realize it, but every day almost every European breathes unhealthy air. That has an impact.“Air pollution is one of the biggest causes of disease in the Netherlands and about as big a risk factor as obesity and low exercise combined,” says Professor Roel Vermeulen.His team is involved in mapping air pollution.“We map concentrations of soot, nitrogen dioxide and (ultra)particulate matter, among other things.What we are most concerned about are the ultrafine particles.Those particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream and increase the risk of respiratory, cardiovascular, cancer and brain diseases.”

Alles in beeld

“To map air pollution, we use models, among other things. We do this because fixed measuring stations can only measure in a few places,” said Jules Kerckhoffs, a researcher on Vermeulen's team. “The National Air Quality Monitoring Network, which is managed by RIVM, measures the concentrations of certain substances in the air at about 100 locations in the Netherlands. To properly map the air quality at all locations, we deploy mathematical models. We use data sets, such as population density and traffic characteristics. But specific and local characteristics of a road, district or city also cause differences in air quality. That's where our mobile measurement data comes in.”

Let it go

Since 2019, the research team has had two measuring cars. In cooperation with various partners, such as area developers, GGDs, companies, as well as residents, they are mapping the air quality in cities.“In the cars we have built in modern measuring equipment, with which we measure nitrogen dioxide, soot ánd ultrafine dust while driving every second.”

These measurements allow the researchers to compare different street types.This shows, for example, that variations in road traffic speeds affect air quality.The influence of roadside trees was also examined in Rotterdam.

What turned out? Streets without roadside trees were found to be less polluted than streets with roadside trees. Most polluted were streets with trees in the middle of the road. Kerckhoffs explains: “Trees absorb virtually no air pollution, but (especially in summer) actually provide less ventilation and thus less spread of pollution. So the air pollution was held in these streets, under the trees. So, despite the fact that greenery and trees are very important in the city, we need to look carefully at where and how we put them.”

Wood-Smoke in the neighborhood

There are also topics that researchers are investigating at the neighborhood level, such as wood smoke.

Wood smoke contributes to particulate matter in the air, a contribution that can be as high as that from industry and road traffic.

However, there are still questions about the health effects. Kerckhoffs: “With local measurements, in specific neighborhoods, we can better identify the contribution of wood stoves to total air pollution.This is because the measuring car distinguishes between soot from traffic and soot from biomass (wood).”

At the city level, the research team is looking at larger sources of air pollution, such as industry or airports.“In Amsterdam and Copenhagen, we showed that there is a significant increase in ultrafine particles in particular around airports,” Kerckhoffs points out.

“It turned out that even in the center of these cities the contribution can still be found.”

In cooperation with citizens and the municipality of Son en Breugel, the researchers will map the influence of Eindhoven Airport. “This airport will close for several months in early 2027. It offers us an excellent opportunity to do an intervention study. In 2025 we are going to take measurements at various locations in Son en Breugel. We will repeat those measurements in 2027, when there is no air traffic.”

Participants in the Exposome Panel Study, among others, will be sent this sensor to measure air quality around their homes.

Residents of great significance

The research team also initiated a major citizen participation project: the Exposome Panel Study.
Nearly 500 Dutch people annually measure, over a two-week period, both with particulate sensors, the air quality in and around their homes.
They also fill out a diary and a questionnaire. Vermeulen is impressed by the enormous involvement of all the participants.
“It provides a wealth of data and enriches our measurements.
” Vermeulen and Kerckhoffs aim to put the car and citizen participation project even more actively on the map.“Air quality in European cities has improved in recent years, but is still nowhere near the recommendations of the World Health Organization.Together with policy makers, businesses and residents, we want to reduce the negative effects of air quality and create a healthier living environment.”