Prague is monitoring the quality of air in its playgrounds

A new pilot project in the center of the Czech capital will monitor the quality of air in playgrounds across Prague. The aim of the project, operated by Prague 1's Town Hall, is to give parents information about potential air pollution before deciding to take their children outside.

Devices monitoring air quality have currently been placed at two city center playgrounds: by Prague's Charles Bridge in Malá Strana as well as Lannova Park by the Vltava river in New Town.

The devices measure potential pollutants in the air, including dust particles, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ground-level ozone. Data about their concentration in Prague's playgrounds is then intended to be published online.

"Visitors to playgrounds will have the opportunity to learn about the current situation [of air quality] in advance, as well as see recommendations based on which they can decide whether it is a good time for outdoor activities," says Prague city councilor Richard Bureš.

According to Bureš, there can be a number of different causes for air pollution in the city center, but gaining knowledge about pollution levels is the first step in ultimately preventing it.

Children, the elderly, and those with respiratory issues are most at risk from air pollution in the city center.

Prague is cooperating with the air and weather monitoring company Agdatacity on the new pilot project. If successful, additional devices measuring potential pollutants will be installed at playgrounds across the city center.

Data from the pilot project will ultimately be published for the public to view on a special website set up by Prague 1, through which visitors can currently see data about air quality two of the city's playgrounds.

Parents, schools, and other interested parties will have the opportunity to view live data about the quality of air in Prague's playgrounds before heading outside.

Officials consider car traffic to be one of the biggest contributors to air pollution in the center of Prague. For this reason, Prague has taken a number of steps in recent years to encourage the use of electric vehicles, including establishing charging stations across the city's network of street lights.