Pollution monitor

Watch the video, then follow the instructions.

1. Decide where you will place your pollution monitors. Find places where
   people won’t touch them, but where you can reach them easily.
2. Make your monitors from either white/transparent plastic or thick white
   card. We used plastic lids from paper cups. If card, take care using
   scissors to cut 5 cm squares and add a hole if you plan to hang up using
   string. On each monitor write the location.
3. Smear some petroleum jelly (like Vaseline) using your finger, or a paint
   brush, on the labelled side of monitors.
4. Attach your monitors in location. Sellotape is probably not strong enough
   so use string or duct tape. Take care not to damage the surfaces you stick
   monitors to.
5. Check the monitors closely daily. In time you will start to see dark specks.
6. After 7-10 days carefully check all monitors for your report below...

SI measurement units​

• Second (s) for time (day = 86400 seconds)
• Candela (cd) for light intensity to see and describe colour of pollution
• Metre (m) for describing size of particles.

Challenge topics​

Climate measurement, measurement science, science observation, pollution

NPL is involved in measuring many types of pollution - including greenhouse gases your monitors cannot show.