Antwerp to turn into giant lab for research on fine dust
Antwerp University will use the city as one big laboratory to determine the effect of fine dust on the population and to experiment with solutions
Four-year research project
The new project, which is slated to last four years, involves scientists from various disciplines. Toxicologists, bio engineers and chemists will analyse the particulates, while sociologists will focus on the composition of the population. Architects, meanwhile, will examine whether an alternative urban planning programme can reduce pollution of the air. Researchers have requested the support of the Flemish government’s agency for innovation through science and technology (IWT).
The initiator of the project is UA bio engineer Roeland Samson, who was also the driving force behind the AIRbezen project. “We noticed that Antwerpenaars were very involved [in the previous project],” Samson told De Standaard. “With the new project, we are building on this experience. Antwerp will become one big urban lab.”
By the end of the project, researchers will have created an action plan for local governments. The plan will show which measures have had the biggest effect on air quality.
Photo courtesy University of Antwerp

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