Shark-shaped sampler to hunt down ‘fugitive’ air pollution

Industrial sites and highways could become cleaner in the future thanks to shark-shaped samplers that hunt 'fugitive' air pollutants. Scientists at Lancaster University and the Environment Agency are working together to develop a new sampler to measure levels of so-called fugitive pollutants - such as particulates, and gases such as ammonia and nitrogen dioxide. 'Directional Passive Air Quality Samplers', which look similar to basking sharks and have been patented as part of ongoing research, are able to monitor the levels of pollutants that are caused by industrial activity, or traffic. The sources of these pollutants, such as airborne particles thrown up by transportation or extraction of raw materials, and intensive agriculture, cannot be identified by standard fixed integrated monitors. Due to environmental regulations as part of industrial permits, operators need to install controls - such as dampening of road surfaces to keep down dust, and the fitting of wind shields to conveyors - to reduce fugitive pollutants. However, this is not currently done on a targeted basis, and is therefore inefficient, due to the lack of suitable monitors that can pinpoint the direction of pollution sources. Dr Maria Angeles Solera García, a senior research associate at Lancaster University, said: "Industrial site operators, in order to comply with the permits issued by regulators, put in numerous costly control measures to tackle fugitive air pollutants in these complex environments.