Toxic Air Filters Expose UK's Hidden Biodiversity

As of August 8th, 2025, an international team of scientists has unveiled a groundbreaking new approach to surveying the UK's biodiversity. Instead of relying on traditional visual observations, the researchers have tapped into an unexpected source: air pollution monitors.

These air samplers, installed across the country to measure toxic metal particles, have been found to also collect tiny fragments of environmental DNA (eDNA) from various organisms. By analyzing the eDNA trapped in these filters, the scientists have detected the presence of over 1,100 different plants and animals, including familiar UK species as well as those of conservation concern.

The discoveries are truly remarkable. The team has identified the DNA of trees, crops, earthworms, newts, robins, badgers, and even 65 species of butterflies and moths - including the elusive purple hairstreak, a butterfly that lives mainly in oak trees. They have also detected the presence of invasive species like grey squirrels and muntjacs, as well as crop pests and the pathogen causing ash dieback.

Remarkably, the air pollution monitors have the potential to track biodiversity changes across the UK, as they can detect eDNA within a 19-kilometer radius. This innovative approach could revolutionize how we monitor the health of ecosystems, especially in areas that are not routinely surveyed. As Professor Elizabeth Clare from York University, Canada, notes, "Taking large national and continental measurements is now really possible. No other method can really scale to this geographic breadth."

The findings from this groundbreaking study have the potential to transform our understanding of the UK's biodiversity, opening up new avenues for conservation and environmental management.