Ten racing pigeons fitted with backpacks that contain lightweight sensors have been released into the air above London to monitor its pollution levels.
The birds were equipped by Plume Labs, a French firm set up to test air quality, and will be measuring levels of nitrogen dioxide, ozone and volatile organic compounds in the UK capital.
Most of the time when we talk about pollution people think about Beijing or other places, but there are some days in the year when pollution is higher and more toxic in London than Beijing; that’s the reality– Pierre Duquesnoy, Plume Labs’ Founder
The advantage in using birds, according to the company who came up with the scheme, is that it allows pollution to be measured in real time.
Anyone who is in London can access the pigeon-based experiment by tweeting their location to @PigeonAir, after which the pigeons will tweet back the amount of pollution in their area.
London is presently experiencing “moderate” air pollution. The project aims to “show Londoners how air pollution affects them, especially during rush hour.”
Plume plans to offer Londoners a beta version of a wearable device that will also analyse pollution levels.
The company claims that 10,000 people die from pollution in London each year.
The project won an award at London Design Festival last year. Its founder, Pierre Duquesnoy, said: “It is a health and environmental scandal for humans and pigeons. We’re making the invisible visible.
“Most of the time when we talk about pollution people think about Beijing or other places, but there are some days in the year when pollution is higher and more toxic in London than Beijing; that’s the reality.
“Around 15 years ago tests were done on around 150 stray dogs in Mexico City, showing the ways in which air pollution was affecting lungs and heart health. This is the first time that I’ve heard of urban wild animals being used to carry sensors to give us a picture of the air pollution over our heads.”
Duquesnoy was inspired by the use of delivery pigeons in the First and Second World Wars.
The London Pigeon Patrol will remain in service until the end of today.
Images via Plume Labs
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It gives a whole new meaning to the old often said: ” you know all this air-pollution is definitely: for the birds!” Or as once was remarked on urban over-population: “So now they are treating us as if we were bees: if we won’t go they are now smoking us out!”