The European Union (EU) has launched a mobile app called AirProbe to help the public track how much ozone, black carbon and other pollutants they are exposed to, according to an official statement issued Thursday.

The app was jointly developed by programmers in Belgium, Germany, Italy and Britain to increase people's awareness of their environment. More than 300 people in Antwerp, Kassel, Turin and London participated in the initial tests.

The AirProbe app works with a small battery-operated sensor box which connects to the phone via Bluetooth and can be carried by users when they are out cycling or walking.

"Thanks to new technologies, we are now firmly in the era of citizen science where everyone can create, collect and share data for the common good," European Commission Vice President and Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes said.