‘Baby’ Claire measures pollution - 12th February 2021

This lifelike doll is lending a hand to scientists who study air quality in Antwerp, Belgium.

She's called Claire and her name is an acronym for 'Clean Air for Everyone'. Electronic sensors in Claire's pushchair monitor the air for pollutants from cars and factories.

Claire's volunteer carers are taking her for a stroll through Antwerp's heavy traffic. Belgium has a population of just 11 million, but is one of the most harmful polluters in Europe. Air pollution is responsible for around 7 million deaths worldwide each year.

Roeland Samson researches air pollution 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 one of the project's volunteer walkers. She explains her reasons for getting involved.

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 is a senior climate campaigner at Greenpeace Belgium.

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."