As we progress into a rapidly advancing future, it’s quickly being revealed that such a coming time brings many consequences that could severely damage our health and wellbeing. A significant side effect that is and will continue to impact us is air pollution. Affecting an estimated 9 million people to a point of death per year, air pollution affects us as cigarette smoke leads to cancer: constant exposure to it creates a gradual build-up in our lungs and our body, which could cause countless impairments later in life. Although not even half as much as other countries, air pollution has been a concern around the streets of Metro Vancouver, quite a busy part of the city where thousands of cars pass by every day, as well as many stores and factories releasing toxic gas emissions. Fortunately, a few UBC research students have invented a new air pollution lab on wheels that gathers detailed, in-depth reports on the air pollution levels and specific concentrations of pollutants around the area. The process of creating this lab, how it works, and how it will contribute to the reduction of  Metro Vancouver’s air pollution will show how this innovation can eventually help other places with their pollution conditions.

Originally manufactured based on Dr. Naomi Zimmerman’s (a professor of mechanical engineering at UBC) hypothesis that locations with unpleasant odours were subject to a higher air pollution concentration, the Portable Laboratory for Understanding Human-Made Emissions–also known as PLUME–is used to take samples of air quality and calculate the pollutant concentration in the studied area. Zimmerman stated, “We’re trying to link air pollution and odour specifically together to see if there are any association between…air pollutants that we know are associated with negative health effects and…odours in those areas…” and said that she and her researchers were able to collect data while the van was moving past areas of possible contamination, adding to its efficiency. Zimmerman also included how although the PLUME lab uses diesel power to move, it is emission friendly due to its fully electric wiring and use of marine batteries. Compared to other mobile labs in the world currently, it can be said to be one of the most eco-friendly labs out there.

The PLUME lab often takes to the streets of Metro Vancouver with Ph.D. student Davi de Ferreyro Monticelli on the wheel, while another student monitors the air conditions and data as they pass through possibly contaminated areas. The van is able to collect air information instantly on the move due to the pump attached to the van which quickly collects air samples and transfers them to a dashboard, where it is analyzed. The sensors measuring the air also take account of the wind to get information on the direction of the air pollution. Because of their main goal and purpose of associating harsh odours with stronger pollutant concentrations, PLUME is affiliated with Smell Vancouver. This initiative allows people to use an app to signify the presence of putrid smells in their area. This app allows PLUME to scour out locations and discover places with the worst air pollution faster and more conveniently. The PLUME team encourages people to submit smell reports with their motto, “If you smell it, report it”. The workings of PLUME, although including the ability to investigate air pollution on the move, extends further to work with the local community to help change Metro Vancouver into a better, pleasantly scented area.

Although there have been conscious efforts around the globe to try and reduce the amount of air pollution released, there have not been many specific and community-centred efforts such as PLUME. I believe this modern research vehicle will not only shape Metro Vancouver and other nearby Canadian municipalities into air pollution-free zones, but can also be used to aid the global issue of air pollution. Though PLUME cannot make air pollution disappear, I think it will be crucially efficient in getting the most information about pollutant concentration directly from particular locations. With PLUME, I believe that even though air pollution will never fully disappear as an issue, it will be a great contribution in helping us understand what we can do to prevent further worsening conditions and allow us to effectively lower air pollution levels in places that need it the most.

Works Cited:

Crawford, Tiffany. “UBC Researchers Launch New Air Pollution Lab on Wheels.” Healthing, Postmedia, 12 Aug. 2022, https://www.healthing.ca/news/local-news/ubc-pollution-lab-on-wheels.

ICECteam. “UBC Team Deploys Pollution-Sniffing Mobile Lab.” Indo Canada Education, ICEC, 23 Aug. 2022, https://indocanadaeducation.org/2022/08/23/ubc-team-deploys-pollution-sniffing-mobile-lab/.

Iednewsdesk. “UBC Vancouver: UBC Team Deploys Pollution-Sniffing Mobile Lab.” India Education Diary, India Education, 22 Aug. 2022, https://indiaeducationdiary.in/ubc-vancouver-ubc-team-deploys-pollution-sniffing-mobile-lab/.

Steacy, Lisa. “’Pollution Sniffing’ Van Hits the Streets in Metro Vancouver.” British Columbia, CTV News, 13 Aug. 2022, https://bc.ctvnews.ca/pollution-sniffing-van-hits-the-streets-in-metro-vancouver-1.6026316.

UBC News. “UBC Engineering Deploys Mobile Air Pollution Laboratory.” News | UBC Applied Science, The University of British Columbia, https://apsc.ubc.ca/news/2022/ubc-engineering-deploys-mobile-air-pollution-laboratory.

The University of British Columbia. “UBC Plume Van.” IREACH Lab (Integrated Research in Energy, Air, Climate & Health), The University of British Columbia, https://ireach.mech.ubc.ca/plume-van/.

Wong, Sam. “Air Pollution.” New Scientist, New Scientist, https://www.newscientist.com/definition/air-pollution/.

World Health Organization. “Air Pollution.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/health-topics/air-pollution#tab=tab_1.

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