New air quality device invented by scientists

A new instrument which is capable of measuring air quality in cities has been invented by scientists and industrialists, it has been announced.

The device - which is the brainchild of Surrey Satellite Technology, the University of Leicester and EADS Astrium - acts as a radar for fluctuating pollution levels above cities.

Professor Paul Monks, one of the leaders of the project, stated that the instrument was developed as a "small satellite payload" and that "its compact size, achieved through the use of a novel optical design, means that the costs of manufacture, platform development and launch can be minimised."

He pointed out the importance of monitoring air quality in terms of health and highlighted World Health Organisation figures which state that 2.4 million people die every year from conditions linked directly to poor air quality.

The instrument is an improvement on systems currently being used, as it provides continuous monitoring over large urban areas.

Last week, it was announced that a new series of air quality sensors have been deployed in Tyne and Wear, which are also capable of tracking noise pollution and congestion.