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Description
The focus of the proposed project is the popularization and promotion of simple procedures to evaluate the deposition of dust particles and thus indirectly the air pollution load of toxic metals and possibly polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the vicinity of sources of various types. Last but not least, the issue of the direct impact of air pollutants, including dust particles, on plants will be included. These pollutants affect not only plant habitus, but also the associated primary and secondary metabolism. In this context, attention will also be paid to the possible use of plants as a potential indicator of the degree of ground air pollution. From the point of view of possible secondary impacts of air pollution on human health, the issue of health risks related to contamination, especially of fruits, vegetables and also collected medicinal herbs by toxic metals contained in dust particles deposited on their surface will not be neglected. Interest groups will consist mainly of professionals and the general public, including pupils and students. The main content of the project will be the organization of workshops and lectures focused mainly on the broad issue of air pollution by dust particles, which represent the most problematic type of substances with a major impact on air quality in the Czech Republic. Another output of the project will be popularization videos available on public servers. Secondary and primary school teachers will be able to use them in their teaching. Their free distribution will contribute to the self-education of a wide range of users. The project will also include a thematically focused publication and a series of popularization articles. The aim of the project is to increase and stimulate public interest in air quality and protection.
Summary of project results
The issue of local ground air quality is highly topical, especially concerning pollution by dust particles, which contain toxic substances with direct adverse effects on human health. The project aimed to raise general awareness of this issue and stimulate public interest in addressing it. We focused on providing qualified information on the possibilities of obtaining data on local levels of air pollution by dust particles. We aimed to contribute to efforts to improve the overall air quality in the country.
Throughout the project, we executed a series of impactful initiatives. These included conducting workshops and lectures centered around the critical topic of airborne dust pollution. We also produced concise educational films accessible on public platforms, serving as valuable tools for teaching and outreach. Furthermore, we developed thematic publications and disseminated additional articles aimed at fostering public engagement. By showcasing the project on prominent websites, we effectively heightened awareness in accordance with our objectives. Ensuring both the general public and experts were well-informed about this issue was crucial in our efforts to enhance local air quality.
Information on the problem of particulate air pollution, with a focus on the local level, was disseminated through various efforts. We conducted five workshops, attracting a total of nearly 300 participants, and delivered 12 thematic lectures in schools to over 250 attendees. Additionally, three popularization articles were published on Enviweb.cz and in the university periodical "Živá univerzita". We produced two short educational films, freely available on YouTube. In addition, our scientific and popular educational publications reached an audience with 500 physical copies distributed and 5500 downloads of the electronic version. Increased publicity was also achieved through social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. As a result, the project''s overall impact has been considerable, significantly raising awareness about the issue.
The importance of the project is reflected in the successful attainment of its objectives. We significantly increased public awareness of local air quality issues and stimulated interest in addressing them. The outputs from our activities, especially the educational films, publications, and popularization articles, have had a lasting impact. For instance, the viewership of the films continues to grow even after the project''s conclusion, demonstrating their lasting influence.