Rotterdam is still ‘very far’ from the new particulate matter standard

The Air Club is a so-called citizen scienceproject, or scientific research in which residents collect data. In this case about the amount of particulate matter (PM2.5) around their house. “In this way we hope to gain an even better insight into the cause of air pollution,” says alderman Arno Bonte (sustainability, GroenLinks). There are 600 participants, who, with 530 sensors, form an intricate addition to the air monitoring network of the DCMR environmental service. “And it answers residents’ questions about the air quality in their street.”

The project has been running for a year now. The results were presented to members on Thursday. What are the most important?

The first measurements hardly deviate from those of the DCMR air monitoring network. “But we do see clear differences per area,” says Bonte. “In Kralingen and Crooswijk, for example, there is a lot of particulate matter in the air due to open fireplaces and barbecues. In other places, such as at the ‘s-Gravendijkwal, you see peaks caused by traffic.”

Because the cause is clearer, it becomes easier to deploy specific measures per district. Bonte: “If wood burning causes nuisance, the neighborhood council can work as an experiment on a local ban on days with little wind.”

In Kralingen and Crooswijk there is a lot of particulate matter in the air due to open fireplaces and barbecues

Arno Bonte alderman

The impact of a fire in the garden or house on air quality is significant. “That is something that is striking about the measurements,” says Bonte. “While policy on reducing wood burning has not yet received the attention it deserves.”

A recent survey among members of the Luchtclub shows that traffic causes the greatest nuisance: two out of three members mark it as the main cause of air pollution in their street. Industry is number two. One in five members suffers the most from this. “This mainly concerns residents in Rozenburg, Heijplaat and Pernis,” says Bonte. Shipping (17 percent) and wood burning (10 percent) also cause nuisance.

‘Density sensors nowhere so high’

The sensors of the Luchtclub only measure PM2.5 (particulate matter with particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers). Nitrogen, another air quality indicator, is not recorded. “You need more advanced and more expensive sensors for that. These sensors were affordable to distribute on a large scale,” says Bonte. The Luchtclub uses technology developed by RIVM. Everywhere in the Netherlands hang these sensors on facades and in gardens. “Nowhere is the density as high as in Rotterdam.”

All streets in Rotterdam now meet the European standard for particulate matter – on average less than 25 micrograms per cubic metre. But the World Health Organization (WHO) tightened the standard in September to 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, because even small amounts of particulate matter can affect health. “We are still a long way from that,” says Bonte. “For example, the municipality is committed to less car traffic, less wood burning and shore power, national measures are also needed to ultimately achieve that standard.”

The Air Club project will run for another year. “I hope that my successor will continue with it,” says Bonte. This also applies to the experiment around the Maastunnel route (roadway closure). “I can’t imagine that the next alderman will reopen all lanes and therefore want an increase in air pollution on his or her conscience.”