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Air monitoring project expanding to 100 schools

After a successful pilot, an air quality monitoring project developed by UNSW researchers is expanding to 100 schools to gather more information on the environments where Australian children learn and play.

UNSW Associate Professor Donna Green says it is fantastic to be able to extend the program more widely to schools throughout NSW, and in time, nationally.

“Air quality has become a hot topic of conversation in recent years due to environmental factors such as the 2020 bushfires and hazard reduction burns,” she says. “While our pilot program shows that generally we have good air quality inside and outside schools, expanding this program will enable us to develop guidance to schools on what to do during adverse events.”

The $1.9 million program, known as CleanAir Schools, monitors air quality inside and outside classrooms via two portable sensors. Described as “world leading” and “low cost”, these sensors are either powered by solar panels (outdoors) or plugged into existing electricity outlets (indoors).

Data is collected at five-minute intervals to measure CO2, PM2.5, NO2, temperature, and relative humidity.

“Collecting accurate air quality data is an important first step,” says A/Prof. Donna Green. “From this network of readings, we will be able to help design easy to implement policies that can improve air quality in schools.”

Although the project was developed before the COVID-19 pandemic, A/Prof. Green says the team will be examining CO2 data with transmission of airborne pathogens in mind. A separate UNSW research project is conducting a related study with HEPA filters and mechanical ventilation to identify how best to improve indoor air quality, with results expected later in 2022.

Final results from the CleanAir Schools pilot are also expected in the coming months.

More information on the project is available at UNSW and at the CleanAir Schools website.

Photo, courtesy of UNSW, shows Doug Thomas, Principal of pilot site Claremont College and UNSW Associate Professor Donna Green.

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