遊び場に新鮮な空気を 藻類で大気浄化　ワルシャワ

【ワルシャワＡＦＰ＝時事】欧州各国の首都の中で汚染レベルが最悪とされるポーランドのワルシャワ中心部に、クリーンな酸素を出す新しい遊び場「エアバブル」が出現した。中では、藻類が大気汚染の原因となる微粒子や二酸化炭素（ＣＯ２）を吸収し、酸素の泡を出している。（写真はポーランド・ワルシャワに設置された「エアバブル」）
　プロジェクトを手掛けた都市デザイン事務所「エコロジックスタジオ」の共同創始者、マルコ・ポレット氏は「自然界の生物の英知を都市に持ち込むことの有用性は、まだ開拓されていない」と語る。
　ポレット氏は「エネルギーを生み出し、ＣＯ２を取り込み、空気を浄化する生きたマシンに建築物を変える」ことを提案している。
　欧州環境庁（ＥＥＡ）が先月公開したデータによると、ワルシャワの大気質は欧州の３２３都市のうち２６９位だった。
　大気汚染の主な原因は石炭の燃焼だ。ＥＥＡは、人口約３８００万人のポーランドで年間５万人が大気汚染のため早死にしていると推計している。
　「エアバブル」には数十本のガラス製シリンダーが取り付けられている。中身は水に入った緑色の藻類で、下部からポンプで空気が送られて来る。この藻類が大気汚染の原因となる粒子状物質やＣＯ２を吸収し、装置の上部からは新鮮な酸素が放出される。
　「エアバブル」の設置は１１月までの予定だが、常設される可能性もある。また、他の複数の都市にも設置が予定されている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】

〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/08/11-11:08）

At a new playground in central Warsaw, algae feast on pollutants and carbon dioxide to provide a bubble of clean oxygen in a city ranked as one of the most polluted capitals in the EU.
There is untapped value in bringing the bio-intelligence of natural systems into cities, said Marco Poletto, co-founder of the ecoLogicStudio urban design firm behind the project.
He suggests turning buildings into living machines that produce energy, store CO2 and clean the air, according to a statement.
The Polish capital was selected for the inaugural edition of the AirBubble as the city is in particular need of clean air.
According to data released by the European Environment Agency (EEA) last month, Warsaw ranks 269th for air quality on a list of 323 European cities.
The list was created based on the average level over the past two years of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), the air pollutant with the highest impact on health.
The EEA blames air pollution -- caused in large part by the burning of coal -- for an estimated 50,000 premature deaths per year in the country of 38 million people.
The bubble is outfitted with dozens of glass cylinders containing algae immersed in water that feast on air being pumped in from below.
The green organisms consume polluting molecules and carbon dioxide before releasing clean oxygen out the top of the bioreactors.
The small circular playground is located next to the riverside Copernicus Science Centre, which stations an employee there to answer any questions and make sure no one gets hurt.
On a recent warm afternoon, children of various ages monkeyed around in the bubble: shrieking, laughing, they hopped on rubber bubbles and swung from rope.
This is fun, shouted eight-year-old Ania, while jumping.
Her mother, Malgorzata Wrona, also applauded the eco-friendly concept.
It's pretty cool. Especially in a big city right? Because you know: pollution and smog and everything, the 42-year-old English teacher told AFP.
This gives the kids, at least, a chance to breathe some fresh air.
She said that where they live, in the western city of Wroclaw, many people still heat their homes with coal, so the air quality is terrible.
The AirBubble will be in place until November for now, but could possibly become a permanent fixture. There are plans to install bubbles in other cities too.