The document describes the iSPEX citizen science project that allows people to measure fine dust particles in the air using a smartphone attachment called iSPEX. iSPEX was developed by researchers in the Netherlands and over 10,000 units have been distributed for free or at a low cost. Participants will use iSPEX on a clear day in May or June 2013 and results will be shared directly with participants in September along with more quantitative results. The goal is to better understand the health, economic, and climate impacts of fine dust particles.

1. 1
iSPEX: measure fine dust
with your smartphone!
Daan Swart, RIVM, Netherlands
Air-Policy-Science Meeting, Dublin, April 14, 3013

2. health

3. health

4. Breathing fine dust takes
on average six months of
your life expectancy.
Economic impact:
4-40 G€.
source: RIVM, lung fund
health

5. economy

6. economy

7. In 2010 canceled flights
due to volcanic ash clouds
cost airline companies
more than a billion euros.
source: IATA
economy

8. climate

9. climate

10. source: IPCC
Fine dust forms the
largest uncertainty in the
climate problem.
climate

11. Measure fine dust with
your smartphone!

12. new
science communication
new
measurement
philosophy

14. iSpex Movie

15. 2500
2000
1000
free distribution: 4500
total: 10,000

16. iSPEX registration is open
16
iSPEX can be ordered at
www.longfonds.nl/ispex
at €2.50 a piece
EARLY APRIL: 6000+ SOLD

17. citizen science experiment
on a clear day
in May/June
2013

18. Results
direct feedback
qualitative results
in september
quantitative results

19. iSPEX team
• NOVA – Netherlands Research School for Astronomy,
University Leiden
• SRON – Netherlands Institute for Space Research
• KNMI – Royal Institute for Meteorology, Netherlands
• RIVM – National Institute for Public Health and the
Environment, Netherlands

20. www.iSPEX.nl
info@iSPEX.nl
@iSPEXnl