South Coast Science is pleased to announce a new project with Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, which is using the Praxis/Cube to monitor air quality data (PM and NO2) around the hospital site.

Specifically, the project will monitor the impact of emissions caused by idling ambulances outside A&E. These vehicles are required to remain idling for long periods in order to support the equipment on board and are of course required to park with doors (and therefore exhaust pipes) pointing towards the hospital entrance,  to make unloading patients easier and quicker. With many A&E entrances resembling a cul-de-sac, there is often little space for the emissions to disperse and this may result in emissions being ‘injected’ into areas used by both staff and patients. Clearly this increases the risk of staff and patients being exposed to harmful pollutants.

The latest low-cost sensor technologies significantly improve access to air quality monitoring. Modular and quick to set up, they can be used to track fluctuations in pollutant levels throughout the day in real-time. 

The Environment Act 2021 set a clear agenda and we can expect increasing public scrutiny of air quality, especially in regard to fine particulate matter (PM2.5). By extending its monitoring programme, the Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust is taking a lead in this area.  

Projects like this will provide information about the impacts on real people, in the real world by gathering data on air quality. 

For more information about the Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust please visit their website. Visit the South Coast Science website for information on its monitoring products, or contact David Johnson, Sales Director.