The school black carbon measuring network in Slovenia — Results of the campaign January–February 1995

Starting in 1992, an educational environmental project named "Simple methods for measuring air pollution" has been conducted in Slovenia as an activity outside the regular curriculum. A simplified methodology for measuring aerosol black carbon (BC, soot) was developed in USA and adopted in Slovenia. Many primary and secondary schools have been included in a growing nationwide network which is probably unique in the world in terms of nature and extent. The simple BC measuring technique is based on the same principle as the standard scientific method: measurement of the attenuation of a light beam passing through the sample collected on a glass or quartz fiber filter. The basic elements of the sample collection apparatus consist of a filter holder, an aquarium pump to provide suction, and a simple flow measurement device. The analysis is performed by a filter spot darkness detector consisting of a light bulb, slider for filter disk, photovoltaic cell, housing and voltmeter. The apparatus is very simple to construct (it can be produced in a school workshop or even at home), the components are inexpensive and yet it provides scientifically valid results. This was proven by a comparison of parallel measurements between this simple equipment and a standard instrument (Aethalometers TM).