‘Baby’ Claire helps scientists - 12th February 2021

Seven million people die from air pollution every year. But 'baby' Claire is here to help in Antwerp, Belgium. Claire is a doll and her name means "Clean Air for Everyone".

People take Claire for walks in her pushchair. Next to the doll, scientists have placed electronic equipment which measures the air pollution.

Only 11 million people live in Belgium. But it is one of the most polluted countries in Europe. It has very bad traffic.

Roeland Samson is a professor at the University of Antwerp.

Samson: "What do we analyse? We analyse particulate matter in 2 size fractions: 10 (micrometres) and 2 and a half, and ultra fine particles which are even more dangerous, because they really can penetrate the lungs deeply and even can entrance our blood system."

Veerle Bonaers is a volunteer for the project. She explains why it's important to her.

Bonaers: "Because I have a child myself and I worry that she has to grow up in a very polluted city, and that it might affect her health in the long term."

Joeri Thijs from Greenpeace thinks transport needs to change.

Thijs: "But now actually with the new cars, diesel and petrol cars they are as bad. We need to go away from fossil fuel cars, we need to go to electric cars that can be fueled with renewable energy, but most of all we need to go to a different kind of mobility with much less cars, and better alternatives."