Canary in coal mine
Digging some stuff out of the web about how the role of animals in some specific situations, I came across this interesting “usage” as described on the BBC website:
 (Picture from the BBC website) |
The canary is particularly sensitive to toxic gases such as carbon monoxide which is colourless, odourless and tasteless. This gas could easily form underground during a mine fire or after an explosion. Following a mine fire or explosion, mine rescuers would descend into the mine, carrying a canary in a small wooden or metal cage. Any sign of distress from the canary was a clear signal the conditions underground were unsafe and miners should be evacuated from the pit and the mineshafts made safer. |
Why do I blog this? this is an example of how miners found a trick for “measuring” some level of gases that might be dangerous. This concept is not so different from Beatriz Da Costa’s blogging pigeons, which measure urban pollution.
November 26th, 2006 at 10:10 pm
Canary in a Coal Mine is an old figure of speech. Back in the 80s The Police used it as the metaphor and title for a minor hit.
First to fall over when the atmosphere is less than perfect
Your sensibilities are shaken by the slightest defect
You live your life like a canary in a coalmine
You get so dizzy even walking in a straight line
November 27th, 2006 at 11:42 am
Animals’ sensitivity could in fact be of great help within the field of occupational hygiene, for chemical or environmental hazards cannot always be detected by our own senses. And it might also replace expensive and unecessary technologies. Back to basics…