# Mollusk Health Sentries Huge Sewage-Scrutinizing Snails Monitor Pollution in St. Petersburg By Katie Cordrey | Published 2011-03-20 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/snails-monitor-pollution References: [bbc](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12357721) & [dailymail](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1353328/Fancy-shelling-anti-pollution-device-African-snails-used-sewage-plant-monitor-levels-toxic-chemicals.html) Rat-sized snails monitor pollution at a St. Petersburg wastewater plant in a strangely ordinary way: by breathing in incinerator emissions. Though it’s a weird sight, heart monitors fitted to six African snails take readings from three snails breathing clean air and three snails breathing incinerator smoke. When compared, the readings provide information about the health of the snails: Since all other environmental factors are constant, negative findings can be attributed to polluted emissions. The unconventional but very inventive monster mollusk monitoring method has come under criticism from some environmentalists who claim it is just a publicity stunt. Vodokanal, the company that owns the plant, disagrees. It says the snails monitor pollution better than [air-sampling instruments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/switchbot-meter-pro) because living, air-breathing organisms are more reliable indicators of risks to humans than mechanical devices. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.2/10 - Popularity: 24% | Activity: 3% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Air-breathing Organism Monitoring:** Using living organisms as reliable indicators of pollution risks instead of mechanical devices presents an opportunity for new monitoring methods in various industries. - **Innovative Environmental Monitoring Techniques:** The use of unconventional monitoring techniques could lead to the discovery of better methods of environmental monitoring and pollution prevention. - **Biodiversity in Environmental Pollution Control:** The use of different animal species, including snails, in monitoring environmental pollution levels can broaden our understanding of the effects of pollution on biodiversity and ecosystem health. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Environmental Monitoring:** Adopting new and innovative ways of monitoring environmental pollution levels could transform the environmental monitoring industry. - **Wastewater Treatment:** Using living organisms to monitor the quality of water in treatment facilities presents an opportunity for Wastewater Treatment companies to improve their monitoring methods and reduce health risks. - **Pollution Control:** Integrating snail monitoring methods in pollution control processes could revolutionize the industry by providing better data and more efficient methods for detecting and preventing environmental pollution. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Metaphor-Inspired Air Quality Monitors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/canairi.md) - [Plant Disease-Monitoring Patches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/electronic-patch.md) - [Bike-Mounted Air Monitors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bikemounted-air-monitor.md) - [Environment Monitor Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sense1.md) - [Pollution-Removing Murals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/this-campaign-sucks.md) - [Slime-Inspired Skincare Gels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hydrodew-slime.md) - [Bird-Like CO2-Monitoring Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/birdie-1.md) - [Preventative Air Quality Monitors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nooku-air-quality-monitor.md) - [Portable Soil Monitors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portable-soil-monitor.md)