Scientists and photographers have joined forces to make invisible air pollution visible, demonstrating the risks to human health.
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The images as part of the project, called “Air of the Anthropocene,” were taken in Ethiopia, India and the UK, reports EurekAlert.
The project participants combined digital photos and data from inexpensive air pollution sensors that measured mass concentrations of particulate matter. The real-time sensor signal was used to control a moving LED array programmed to light up faster as particulate concentrations increased.
Particulate matter (PM) is the air pollutant most responsible for human morbidity and mortality. It has numerous effects on physical health and is a cause of diseases such as heart disease, stroke and cancer.
The photographs were taken with a long exposure, in which the artist moved the LED array in front of the camera:
- the flash became a dot in the photograph;
- the photographer cannot be seen in the photograph because he is moving, but the flashes of light from the LEDs are visible because they are bright;
- The more points of light appear in the photographs, the higher the concentration of PM.
Air pollution is considered a major threat to both the environment and human health and a leading cause of death worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 99% of the world’s population breathes polluted air, causing approximately 7 million premature deaths worldwide each year, the article notes.
Source: EurekAlert
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I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.