Lichens: the ancient ‘tool’ for measuring modern air quality
Posted on 29 September 2009
But in the 21st Century, the region faces a different and invisible problem – nitrogen pollution from road traffic and ammonia emitted as a result of intensive agricultural processes.
Lichens are amazing things – most people walk by them every day without realising they are there
Sarah West, OPAL Community Scientist
Scientists from the University of York are seeking the help of Yorkshire residents to assess the true scale of this modern day scourge – and they are planning to use some of the region’s oldest living organisms to do it.
Volunteers from across the region are being recruited to join the OPAL Air Survey which starts on 29 September. It involves checking the effect of vehicle and other emissions on lichens which are sensitive to air pollution.
The national survey has been developed with experts from the British Lichen Society and led by Imperial College London as part of the wider OPAL (Open Air Laboratories) initiative. OPAL has been awarded a grant of £11.7 million by the Big Lottery Fund to inspire a new generation of nature enthusiasts.
It is led in Yorkshire and the Humber by a team of scientists at the University of York, from the Environment Department, the Department of Social Policy and Social Work and the Stockholm Environment Institute.
The researchers are encouraging people to find out about the levels of pollution in their local area by looking for lichens on trees, in gardens or local parks. Recent research has identified that some lichens thrive on air pollution while others are highly sensitive to it. This means they can be used to indicate what air quality is like today. Volunteers will be given a special survey pack with tips on what to look out for in their local lichens.
Sarah West, OPAL Community Scientist, said: “Lichens are amazing things – most people walk by them every day without realising they are there. But once you start noticing them, you’ll see them everywhere!
“And their sensitivity to air pollution means they are a really effective way of measuring air quality.”
The data they will gather will help scientists not only find out about air pollution but also lichen distribution across England. People can upload their results to the OPAL website at www.OPALexplorenature.org
The survey is launching on 29 September. To get your free survey pack, please contact Sarah West via opalproject@york.ac.uk or 01904 434577.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) received an £11.75m grant from the Big Lottery Fund in August 2007. It aims to create a new generation of nature-lovers by getting people to engage with the natural world around them. To find out more visit www.OPALexplorenature.org
- The Environment Department at the University of York was founded in 1992, initially to integrate ecological and environmental sciences with environmental economics. The aim was to improve understanding of environmental problems, and how to solve them, through the consideration of both the human dimension and the underpinning science. Its objective is to develop sustainable solutions to environmental problems that are consistent with human aspirations and with global, regional and local institutions and markets.
- The Department of Social Policy at York is one of the largest centres of social research in Europe - with two dedicated research units and five core research groups producing high quality policy relevant research.
- More information on the Stockholm Environment Institute at York at www.sei.se
- The Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme was launched in November 2005 to help communities enjoy and improve their local environments. The programme funds a range of activities from local food schemes and farmers markets, to education projects teaching people about the environment. Imperial College London (the leading OPAL partner) was awarded a £11,760,783 Changing Spaces grant in August 2007
- The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004. It was established by Parliament on 1 December 2006. Full details of the work of the Big Lottery Fund, its programmes and awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
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Interview
Listen to Sarah West discuss the OPAL Air Survey