Public Participation and Awareness Raising in an Air Pollution Exposure Study

1. Public Participation and Awareness Raising in an Air Pollution Exposure Study “A tale of six cities” Robert Field (Auxiliary Agent) Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES) Ispra, Italy http://www.ies.jrc.cec.eu.int http://ies.jrc.cec.eu.int/Units/eh/Projects/PEOPLE/ Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

2. PEOPLE project: Population Exposure to Air Pollutants in Europe Brussels Lisbon Bucharest Ljubljana Madrid Dublin Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

3. The PEOPLE behind PEOPLE • Emile DeSaeger, Pascual Ballesta, Robert Field, Antonia Baeza, Richard Connolly and Natale Cao of EHU/IES/JRC • Pascal DeMulder and Sandrine Bladt for Brussels (1) • Ana Cabral, Pedro Ferraz de Abreu, Francisco Ferreira, Hugo Tente, Luisa Nogueira for Lisbon (6) • Matej Gregoric and Peter Otorepec for Lubljana (2) • Emilia Niciu for Bucharest (1) • Rosalia Fernandez and David Galan for Madrid (1) • Martin Fitzpatrick, Anne Marie McCarten and PatGoodman for Dublin (2) Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

4. All air quality roads lead to health impact Ambient Air quality surrogate for human exposure? • Representative nature of background monitoring sites • Less extensive monitoring around hot spot sites • Different focus of monitoring indoor pollution levels • Influence of personal choices on exposure levels A real need for human exposure data Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

5. Main PEOPLE Objectives • 1. Air monitoring network support (mapping) • 2. Assessment of human exposure to air pollution • 3. Awareness raising for air quality • 4. Comparison between European Cities • 5. Assessment of pollution exposure models Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

6. Meeting Objectives 2 & 3 • Methodology for gaining a representative sample • Simple sampling approach with one day sampling • Different categories used to show importance of sources • Media as an active partner Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

7. Public Participation • For most AQ assessments direct participation is outside of practical methodological design • Public involvement in research is often limited to review of completed studies related to development, e.g. Airport expansion • Human Exposure studies offer the opportunity to involve the public • More complex and time critical study design than traditional ambient AQ studies Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

8. Awareness Raising • Less than education but more than information • Is best achieved through the media rather than scientific journals, “don’t confuse me with the facts just tell me what I need to know” • Must be designed to both stand alone and act as a stepping stone for greater understanding of issue Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

9. PEOPLE design for objectives 2 & 3 • Step 1: Information and Communication : What is the PEOPLE project? • Step 2: Getting involved: The screening Questionnaire; Selection; and training of 150 volunteers in each city (city management) • Step 3: Participation: PEOPLE sampling day • Step 4: Closing the loop: Press conferences and individual communication Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

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11. Project planning discussion with the JRC Week 1 Set-up Data base management & procedures Invitation e-mail and post lists web-pages RADIO adverts NEWSPAPER adverts Press releases Selection of Environmental monitoring sites INDOOR AND OUTDOOR Press Conference Target of 500 screening questionnaires entered into master data-base Start screening for Personal Exposure volunteers Input from JRC Week 5 Volunteers selected within specified categories Confirmation of volunteers participation Week 7 Arrangement of post sampling meeting Training in operation of sampler 1 week prior to campaign day DISTRIBUTION OF SAMPLERS DAY OF CAMPAIGN Week 8 Sampler collection Week 9 Return of materials to JRC Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

12. Step 1: Information and Communication (MEDIA): What is the PEOPLE project? • Concise press release • Clear supporting information and materials • Interviews with local and national journalists: • newspapers; radio stations; and television channels Information must be given in the right way at the best place Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

13. Step 2: Getting involved Screening, Selecting and Training • Clear instructions for easy to find locations: • Drop in • Dedicated telephone line • Website • Completing the screening questionnaire • Managing the data-base of potential volunteers Good directions can never be underestimated Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

14. Step 2a: Screening Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

15. Less is more when design is simple Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

16. Step 2b: Selecting 150 citizens in each city Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

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18. Step 2b:Different selection approaches Bucharest (250) Brussels (200) In house Ljubljana (250) Madrid (250) In house Network Lisbon (400) Dublin (400) In house Network Media While all cities met project design, the net was widest for Lisbon and Dublin Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

19. Step 2c: Training of citizens to use sampler To assemble the sampler, please follow the instructions given below: Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

20. To complete sampling, please follow the instructions given below: Fig.4 Fig. 5 Fig. 6 Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

21. Step 2c: Training of citizens to use a movement diary • Simple one side diary with 6 questions • Used to provide data and ensure sample integrity • Sampler and diary are easy to use Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

22. Step 3: Sampling day recovery and efficiency • Over 95% of samplers distributed, then • Over 95% of samplers collected, then • Over 95% of diaries properly completed, then • Over 95% of samples successfully analysed Above expectations Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

23. Step 4: Closing the loop (ONGOING) • Press Conferences (publicity, launch and results) • Individual Communication (letters and reports) • Data Analysis • Report writing (articles, reports and programs) Fools rush in where angels fear to tread In the media World shelf life is limited Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

24. Awareness Raising and Public Participation Feedback from the media: did it work well? • Variable success with publicity and launch events • Radio and newspaper interviews in all cities • Two television programs (Portugal and Ireland) • Greater media interest with the results Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

25. Feedback from volunteers:did it work well? • Respondents to the questionnaire motivated to take part • Limited feedback from the volunteers upon receipt of • results unless concentrations were very high Informing participants is an essential and integral part of the project Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

26. Feedback from city managers:did it work well? • Great success as an awareness raising exercise at a • number of levels • When it worked well it worked too well!!! • Involving volunteers in monitoring of air quality has • led to improved relationship with media and citizens • A clear message for smoking and transport policy Implemenation is a different challenge Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

27. Scientific Results Benzene distribution in Lisbon on 22nd October 2002 Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

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30. Percentile of campaign Brussels Lisbon Bucharest Ljubljana day in the year: 35 55 45 45 Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

31. Outliers for Bucharest: personal exposure Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

32. CITIDEP project: PEOPLE for schools • Why schools? • Power of schools to promote society changes • “PEOPLE” allows participatory science • Activities • In the classroom (9 months): inquiries, lab sessions, games • (9 schools, 19 teachers, 280 students) • 2 videoconferences + web broadcasts with PEOPLE scientists • (50 schools, 500 students) • Role play debating about environmental issues Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

33. 15 October 2002 Lisbon Viana Video internet broadcast with 10th Grade students at two sites Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

34. Highschool students working with Elementary school students Activity: “ The air exists, although we can't see it” Environmental game: “Learn with the environment, playing!” Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

35. What Next? • Sustainable Environment and Educational Development (SEED): City mapping and direct educational outreach, we are seeking partners • New PEOPLE cities: Budapest 2005 and possibly Paris, Rome and Berlin • Repeat of CITIDEP exercise in new cities Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004

36. Conclusions • Good human exposure data in support to policy development • Successful participation (approx 1000 volunteers in 6 cities) • Raising awareness requires the media as an active partner • Combination studies can work (science, policy and public based) Accent Workshop: Public Participation 28 October 2004