One fifth of Brussels schools exposed to severe air pollution

A fifth of Brussels schools are exposed to severe air pollution, according to a new study from environmental organisation Les Chercheurs d'Air using UCLouvain's SIRANE software programme for modelling air pollution.

The schools are exposed to concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) that are two to three times higher than World Health Organisation recommended standards.

“It’s unacceptable that children from all schools, including many kindergartens, are damaging their health by breathing polluted air,” said Renaud Leemans, campaign coordinator at Les Chercheurs d'Air.

Apart from the 121 primary schools (19.45%) exposed to the very highest levels of air pollution, all of Brussels’ 855 schools suffer from excessive NO2 levels.

High nitrogen dioxide concentrations are particularly harmful for young children, according to Les Chercheurs d'Air, since because their metabolism is still developing and they are small in stature, they breathe faster and inhale more pollution from exhaust gases.

Les Chercheurs d'Air therefore advocates the preservation and expansion of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in Brussels, which calls for all diesel engines to be phased out by 2030 and all internal combustion engines by 2035.

The LEZ expansion is being fought against by political parties MR, Les Engagés and PS, who have together brought negotiations for a new Brussels government to a halt with proposals to postpone the new rules from early 2025 to early 2027.

Les Chercheurs d'Air said this could lead to a delay in air quality improvements in the Belgian capital – a city which consistently ranks high on the list of European cities with the worst air pollution.

Les Chercheurs d'Air highlights the importance of legislation surrounding designated "school streets", where car traffic is restricted during the beginning and end of the school day.

Currently, only 8% of Brussels primary schools are located on a street designated as a school street, while the organisation said that this could be extended to 70% of schools.