Bees are natural receptors in air quality monitoring because they store pollutants while flying. Bologna Airport has started air quality biomonitoring, through the installation of hives in areas surrounding the airport and with laboratory analyzes of bees and their serum, to detect the concentration of pollutants.
The project is carried out in collaboration with ERGO, an accredited spin-off of the University of Bologna and in agreement with CONAPI (National Consortium of Beekeepers), which monitors air quality in various Italian cities through private citizens (beekeepers) who undertake to host the hives.
The data obtained from these analyzes integrate the air quality monitoring already carried out starting from 2018 with the monitoring stations located in the vicinity of the airport .
The biomonitoring activity is completed with information and awareness campaigns, aimed at airport employees and airport passengers, on the importance of bees in the naturalistic and ecosystem context.
