In this day and age, excess air pollution lingering in our environment seems inevitable. From vehicle emissions, to the combustion of fossil fuels, to deforestation, pollution comes from many sources. But it’s nonetheless an environmental problem we need to address. Apart from posing harm to our environment, air pollution can have a direct impact on our health.
13-year-old Tom Hunt and his black Labrador Bagheera “Baggy” from Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England are currently researching the hot topic. Along with Tom’s dad Matt, who owns an alternative energy company called Bio Global Industries, the small team are considered perhaps the first to research pollution found at ground level. And for Baggy, that makes him the first dog in the UK, possibly even the first dog ever, to help with pollution research.
One way Baggy and his team of humans are helping with the air pollution problem is by collecting data of the pollutant level at ground level.
“About 14 months ago, he got this new piece of tech which is like a test tube. One Sunday afternoon, we went out to do some monitoring, and I said, why don’t we take Baggy with us?” Matt explained.
While Tom and Matt wear the pollution-monitoring devices around their necks like a necklace, Baggy wears her own tech device around her collar to help collect data closer to the ground.
The team now has approximately 40 to 45 hours worth of data collected.
But why collect data at ground level? The English teen was interested in recording at ground level once he discovered that the pollution levels are recorded above ground level by the Environment Agency.
Because of this, his father Matt believes the national data is skewed.
After all, “the pollution monitors are ordinarily hung upside down from lampposts, a lot higher up, to avoid vandalism. But this gives a completely different, flawed result,” according to Matt.
In fact, shortly after collecting data, Tom found that air pollution is two-thirds higher closer to the ground that it is at the level it’s normally being monitored at. With higher pollution towards the ground, Tom and his father concluded that this must be one reason why youngsters are more prone to lung problems, including asthma.
“I am really proud of Baggy, I think our research is really important,” Tom said. “People need to recognize that it is us young people and kids who are suffering the most from air pollution, and something needs to be done about it urgently.”
Based on this research, they’ve come up with a potential solution.
“The main thing is to keep [children] above exhaust level. Get them a higher pushchair [stroller], like the old-style ones, to keep them higher up from the ground,” Matt said.
After collecting research, Tom and his father reported their data to the Government and the Buckinghamshire County Council. They’ve also contacted DEFRA (Department For Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs) about their discoveries. The data the father and son collected is also being used on the Plume app, which informs users about the current pollution levels in their region.
According to Matt, Tom first became interested in environmental studies around the age of 7 or 8, and it was his idea to start monitoring pollution levels on his own.
Although Tom knows him and his canine are doing good for the environment, he remains humble for both himself and for Baggy. At the same time, he knows Baggy is a special dog.
“Most of the time, Baggy is just like any other dog—she doesn’t like the Hoover and she loves to pull the stuffing out of her teddies. But for the rest of the time she is a super dog, and we are all really proud of her,” Tom said.
View an adorable picture of Tom and his pal Baggy below, who are wearing their pollution-monitoring devices around their neck!
