Cyclist's mission to measure city air quality

A cyclist has taken on a mission to help tackle pollution by using his bike to measure air quality across Worcester.

Al Pagan, a Bike Worcester volunteer, has fitted a SmogOff device to his bicycle that measures nitrogen oxides and particulate matter - a mixture of solid and liquid particles suspended in the air.

Alongside Bike Buses across the city, he has been gathering readings on some of Worcester's busiest streets during rush-hour traffic.

The data collected will be used to complement the city council's air quality management projects.

The monitor is designed as a stationary device but the sensors take readings often enough that useful data has been collected, Mr Pagan said.

He added: "They say you breathe in just as much pollution if you're sat in the car and most of us at Bike Worcester are car drivers too, so this is something that affects us all."

Worcester MP Tom Collins, said: "Air quality is a huge issue in Worcester, especially for our young people, who tell me that they see it damaging the environment and their own health.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.