Air Monitoring & Sensors

Brief Overview

What is air monitoring?

  • Air pollution is unhealthy substances in the air that harms our health and the environment. Air pollution can be a gas, particles, or liquid droplets. When we breathe air pollution, there are both short term and long term health effects. For more information on how air pollution affects people, check out this blog post. (link blog post)
  • This is where air monitoring comes into play. Air monitoring is the long term, assessment of pollution levels by measuring the amount of pollutants in the air. There are many types of air monitoring devices that can be installed to measure the pollutant in one area, or portable devices that can measure exposure anywhere.   
  • Air monitoring is vital to know the potential dangers in an area. Essentially, air monitoring helps to locate the source of the problem and lead to further investigation. In addition, air monitoring can help us learn important information about the area.

What is community air monitoring?

  • Often, communities of color are disproportionately affected by air pollution and other environmental disasters. Community air monitoring involves placing several air monitors in a neighborhood and measuring the air quality over time. This way, communities can be informed and important steps can be taken to combat air pollution.

Find out about your state here:

  • This is a database of air monitoring programs in our ten state region. In addition, there are national resources where you can find out the air pollution levels of your neighborhood. Check back soon for links to state profiles.

Mapping Tools

Tool/Website How to Use Information available About
IQAir Put in your location to view local AQI Index along with weather, and historical data IQAir works with other nonprofits to provide real time air quality information to shape the path for better air
AirNow Put your location in to view AQI index along with local pollutants, and see air monitors near you AirNow is an interactive map made by the EPA that lets you see the data from a single air monitor. They partner with government and local agencies.
AQICN Put in your location to view local AQI data along with different PM levels and air quality forecast for the next few days This is a nonprofit started in 2007 to promote air pollution awareness and provides information for 130 countries
Airly Put in your location to view local AQI data, they also sell Airly sensors Airly presents accurate, hyper local data about air pollution in local communities and help people understand health risks
World’s Air Pollution Put in your location to view local AQI data along with different PM levels and air quality forecast for the next few days Air quality scale of the entire world Page is compiled from more than 10,000 different stations. Credit goes to worldwide Environmental Protection Agencies

Indoor Air Quality Apps

App How to Use Information Available Features
uHoo Smart Indoor Air Quality Sensor with information about P M 2.5, CO2, Carbon monoxide and VOCs Very secure with 128 bit AES end to end encryption, compatible with air purifiers, dehumidifiers, and more
Awair Uses five calibrated sensors to report data individually on pollutants Mayo clinic partnership and contains visual cards for quick fix tips and health information for understanding indoor air quality
Blueair Friend Reports on pollutants and translate into one of 6 air quality levels. Displays information numerically for data tracking Easy to use and turn on and off the Blueair Sense+ Air Purifiers
Airthings Wave Plus Six sensors that track radon, carbon dioxide, and total VOC from common household items Easy to use and have tips on reducing indoor air hazards
Shoot I Smoke Equate urban air pollution to how many cigarettes smoked Gives context to air pollution and compares it to something tangible

Everything You Need To Know About Air Sensors

What to look for in a sensor

  • Temp, humidity
  • What will it measure? Usually PM 2.5 is the standard, but it can also monitor VOC
  • Is it EPA approved?

AQ-SPEC

Air Quality Sensor Performance Evaluation Center program developed by South Coast AQMD to inform the general public about performance of commercially available low cost air quality sensors.

Basics of Air Sensors

Build Your Own Particle Sensor

EPA has a build your own particle sensor activity

  • Educational
  • Easy
  • Downloadable/Printable PDF with instructions

Where To Get Sensors

Organization/Website About Products Pricing EPA Approval
PS Clean Air Available air sensors for loaning to community groups, educators, and individuals Inquire on website for more information Free Lending program of many companies
QuantAQ All in one platform to set-up, operate, and gain insight from a network of air sensors. Two products sold: QuantAQ cloud and MODULAIR-PM. First is an all in one system for managing and putting out sensors. Second measures PM in real time 25$/month/device
Gaia Air Quality monitors Specially optimized, highly accurate, and easy to use monitoring stations that are affordable Semi-professional Air Quality monitoring product that works well for outdoor and indoor air quality monitoring From 100$ per year, inquire on website for more accurate rates  
Purple Air A real time air monitoring network built on new generation of “Internet of Things” sensors Laser pollution sensors use laser particle counters that provide an accurate and low-cost way to measure smoke, dust, and other particulate air pollution. Around 250$ per sensor  
Acoem Hyperlocal small senor air quality monitoring system AQMesh: tried and tested name in small sensor technology for commercial use Inquire on website for more information  
Sensatek Sensatek has patented sensors for harsh environments to generate data for optimization of strategic power generation assets Realtime blade health monitoring system that is designed to increase revenue and reduce maintenance costs Inquire on website for more information  
AirIQ AirIQ’s GPS solution provides real-time asset location and field data information to allow businesses to effectively manage their assets. This is achieved through streamlined reports and a user-friendly platform. Variety of air sensors available Inquire on website for more information  
Local colleges Your local university might have air sensor projects. Universities often do collaboration projects where you can request sensors Inquire for more information  

Resources For Schools

Conferences and Activities

  • NAAEE: using education to advance environmental literacy and civic engagement to create a more equitable and sustainable future
  • Hands on the Land: hands-on field experiences that connect schools and nonprofits

Environmental Club Activities

EPA Flag Program

  • Colored flags based on U.S. EPA’s Air Quality Index to notify teachers, coaches, students about outdoor air quality conditions. School Flag Program: Fact Sheet