Go Back
  • For Business
  • |
  • Warnings
  • Data Suite
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising
  • Superior Accuracy™
Big heat is coming to the Northeast, so are more downpours Chevron right
North Central states face daily bouts of severe weather. Click here for more details Chevron right

Columbus, OH

76°F
Location Chevron down
Location News Videos
Use Current Location
Recent

Columbus

Ohio

76°
No results found.
Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest.
settings
Columbus, OH Weather
Today WinterCast Local {stormName} Tracker Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities

Around the Globe

Hurricane Tracker

Severe Weather

Radar & Maps

News

News & Features

Astronomy

Business

Climate

Health

Recreation

Sports

Travel

For Business

Warnings

Data Suite

Newsletters

Advertising

Superior Accuracy™

Video

Winter Center

AccuWeather Early Hurricane Center Top Stories Trending Today Astronomy Heat Climate Health Recreation In Memoriam Case Studies Blogs & Webinars

News / Weather News

'Pollution Pods' art exhibit sheds light on startling difference in air quality across the globe

By Jillian MacMath, AccuWeather staff writer

Published Apr 24, 2018 11:07 PM EDT | Updated Jul 10, 2019 1:52 PM EDT

Copied

A British artist has recreated pollution from cities around the globe to let visitors experience some of the world's worst air quality without leaving London.

Constructed by Michael Pinsky, the installations, called ’Pollution Pods’, arrived at Somerset House in the capital city this week.

The walk-through display consists of five greenhouse-like domes which are pumped with pollutants to mimic the environment in various international cities.

pollution pods

(Photo/Jillian MacMath)

Beginning in the fresh air of Tautra, Norway, visitors wander through the display’s tunnels to inhale the thick, heavily polluted air of London, New Delhi, Beijing and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Using combinations of ozone, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide, Pinsky replicates the smell of each city and the smog and haze that is trapped within them.

Pinsky said: “I was working in Norway with these environmental psychologists with the idea of making a work around climate change. I was moving between London and the north of Norway and I was always amazed at the difference in the quality of the air as I went from one place to the other."

"That was really in the back of my mind as I started thinking about a piece of work that I could make that was relevant to climate change, but also on a topic that touched people in their everyday lives. Here in London, people suffer from the effects of pollution every day."

pollution pods 2

(Photo/Jillian MacMath)

It is estimated that the life of the average Londoner is shortened by up to 16 months when exposed to the current level of pollution.

Meanwhile, the pea soup smog of New Delhi could cost residents around four years of their lifetime.

According to Pinsky, however, it's not how long you live that matters.

He said: "It’s a question of how you live while you’re alive. And that’s where the impact is really, on the quality of your life. What amazes me is we put up with this level of pollution when it’s utterly avoidable."

RELATED:

The Great Barrier Reef experienced a catastrophic die-off following marine heat wave, study shows
How would a species’ extinction impact the food web, our ecosystems?

Alongside the project, PhD students from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology are gathering data on visitors’ experiences, seeking to determine whether art can have an impact on perceptions and influence behavior.

While data is still being gathered to establish this, Pinsky said he’s hopeful that they'll find it does.

He said: “I think a lot of people are coming out and they're quite shocked, especially if they have never been to New Delhi or they haven't been to China."

"There has been a lot of shock when people start realizing actually people live in these places. They're not just there for five minutes. They have to put up with this day in and day out. It's been quite satisfying seeing people's reactions to that."

Report a Typo

Weather News

Weather News

Wildfire smoke to limit number of days with deep blue sky this summer

Jun. 12, 2025
Weather News

More rain, temperature swings ahead for the Northeast

Jun. 15, 2025
Weather News

Children swept away among at least 49 killed in South Africa flooding

Jun. 11, 2025
Show more Show less Chevron down

Topics

AccuWeather Early

Hurricane Center

Top Stories

Trending Today

Astronomy

Heat

Climate

Health

Recreation

In Memoriam

Case Studies

Blogs & Webinars

Top Stories

Weather News

How the Air India plane came crashing to earth

3 days ago

Severe Weather

North-central US faces daily bouts of severe weather

6 hours ago

Weather Forecasts

More stormy downpours for northeast US, but big heat is on horizon

2 hours ago

Weather Forecasts

Denver to hit 100 as heat surges to new heights in central US

6 hours ago

Weather News

At least 8 dead in San Antonio after months of rain fell in hours

2 days ago

More Stories

Featured Stories

Climate

If crucial ocean currents collapses, weather impact would be extreme

4 days ago

Weather News

No injuries after JetBlue plane rolls onto grass after landing

3 days ago

Astronomy

Accidental find in planetarium could shift understanding of solar syst...

4 days ago

Climate

New Zealand sued over ‘inadequate’ plan to reduce emissions

4 days ago

Weather News

New images reveal treasures aboard ‘holy grail’ shipwreck

3 days ago

AccuWeather Weather News 'Pollution Pods' art exhibit sheds light on startling difference in air quality across the globe
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
© 2025 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | About Your Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

...

...

...