TWO new sensors designed to monitor air quality in Salisbury have been installed as part of a county-wide initiative.

The air quality sensors have been installed at Tollgate Road Depot and Bemerton Heath Centre to measure the amount of local fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution in the city.

The move is part of a one-year project by Wiltshire Council Wiltshire Community Air Network (WCAN) which has been launched to understand more about air pollution in Wiltshire by using low-cost PurpleAir Zen PM2.5 air quality sensors.

PM2.5 is a type of air pollution made up of tiny pieces of solids or liquids, each no larger than 2.5 micrometres.

These particles can originate from both human activities, such as vehicle emissions, and natural sources, such as dust. Exposure to PM2.5 can increase the risk of health problems and have harmful effects on the environment.

There is currently limited local data about PM2.5 in Wiltshire. By hosting two sensors, Salisbury City Council is contributing to a county-wide effort to identify local PM2.5 pollution trends and hotspots and inform future strategy for air quality monitoring and pollution reduction.

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This work is also in line with its own environment policy, which commits the city council to working with partners to monitor and help improve air quality.

The air quality sensors provide real-time data on PM2.5 pollution levels, which members of the public will be able to access online at map.purpleair.com. Individuals and communities can use this data to learn more about their local air quality.

Councillor Paul Sample, said, “This project will help us understand more about PM2.5 air pollution in Salisbury and Wiltshire as a whole.

“Wiltshire Council have obtained 100 low-cost air quality sensors available to measure local PM2.5 air pollution. The data from the sensors will be analysed by scientists to help us understand local PM2.5 pollution trends and hotspots, as well as helping inform our future strategy for air quality monitoring.

“I’d like to thank Salisbury City Council for supporting this project. If you would like to take part, please get in touch. There are still some areas of the City where we have no data.”

Click here to find out more about the WCAN on the Wilshire Council website.