Long-term field comparison of multiple low-cost particulate matter sensors in an outdoor urban environment
Long-term field comparison of multiple low-cost particulate matter sensors in an outdoor urban environment
Exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) air pollution is a leading risk factor for morbidity and mortality, associated with up to 8.9 million deaths/year worldwide. Measurement of personal exposure to PM is hindered by poor spatial resolution of monitoring networks. Low-cost PM sensors may improve monitoring resolution in a cost-effective manner but there are doubts regarding data reliability. PM sensor boxes were constructed using four low-cost PM micro-sensor models. Three boxes were deployed at each of two schools in Southampton, UK, for around one year and sensor performance was analysed. Comparison of sensor readings with a nearby background station showed moderate to good correlation (0.61<r<0.88, p<0.0001), but indicated that low-cost sensor performance varies with different PM sources and background concentrations, and to a lesser extent relative humidity and temperature. This may have implications for their potential use in different locations. Data alsoindicates that these sensors can track short-lived events of pollution, especially in conjunction with wind data. We conclude that, with appropriate consideration of potential confounding factors, low-cost PM sensors may be suitable for PM monitoring where reference-standard equipment is not available or feasible, and that they may be useful in studying spatially localised airborne PM concentrations.
particulate matter, Sensor Networks, Citizen Science, exposure, Air Pollution
1-13
Bulot, Florentin M. J.
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Johnston, Steven
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Basford, Philip J
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Easton, Natasha H. C.
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Apetroaie-Cristea, Mihaela
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Foster, Gavin L.
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Morris, Andrew K. R.
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Cox, Simon J.
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Loxham, Matthew
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16 May 2019
Bulot, Florentin M. J.
47870de2-3ba2-4425-b07a-16ce48ee3956
Johnston, Steven
6b903ec2-7bae-4a56-9c21-eea0a70bfa2b
Basford, Philip J
efd8fbec-4a5f-4914-bf29-885b7f4677a7
Easton, Natasha H. C.
56583bc7-b005-40d8-8571-99d335430a8f
Apetroaie-Cristea, Mihaela
5fc15df9-13e3-474a-b21b-7c457a1dc8eb
Foster, Gavin L.
fbaa7255-7267-4443-a55e-e2a791213022
Morris, Andrew K. R.
00ef3bfb-219c-4ea7-86d2-dd4d71c083a6
Cox, Simon J.
0e62aaed-24ad-4a74-b996-f606e40e5c55
Loxham, Matthew
8ef02171-9040-4c1d-8452-2ca34c56facb
Bulot, Florentin M. J., Johnston, Steven, Basford, Philip J, Easton, Natasha H. C., Apetroaie-Cristea, Mihaela, Foster, Gavin L., Morris, Andrew K. R., Cox, Simon J. and Loxham, Matthew
(2019)
Long-term field comparison of multiple low-cost particulate matter sensors in an outdoor urban environment.
Scientific Reports, 9, , [7497].
(doi:10.1038/s41598-019-43716-3).
Abstract
Exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) air pollution is a leading risk factor for morbidity and mortality, associated with up to 8.9 million deaths/year worldwide. Measurement of personal exposure to PM is hindered by poor spatial resolution of monitoring networks. Low-cost PM sensors may improve monitoring resolution in a cost-effective manner but there are doubts regarding data reliability. PM sensor boxes were constructed using four low-cost PM micro-sensor models. Three boxes were deployed at each of two schools in Southampton, UK, for around one year and sensor performance was analysed. Comparison of sensor readings with a nearby background station showed moderate to good correlation (0.61<r<0.88, p<0.0001), but indicated that low-cost sensor performance varies with different PM sources and background concentrations, and to a lesser extent relative humidity and temperature. This may have implications for their potential use in different locations. Data alsoindicates that these sensors can track short-lived events of pollution, especially in conjunction with wind data. We conclude that, with appropriate consideration of potential confounding factors, low-cost PM sensors may be suitable for PM monitoring where reference-standard equipment is not available or feasible, and that they may be useful in studying spatially localised airborne PM concentrations.
Text
Bulot Long-term field comparison of multiple low-cost PM sensors
- Accepted Manuscript
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Bulot 2019 Long-term field comparison of multiple low-cost particulate matter sensors in an outdoor urban environment
- Version of Record
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 25 April 2019
e-pub ahead of print date: 16 May 2019
Published date: 16 May 2019
Keywords:
particulate matter, Sensor Networks, Citizen Science, exposure, Air Pollution
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 430834
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/430834
ISSN: 2045-2322
PURE UUID: 7a9d3986-105e-425f-8273-20166d1e00db
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Date deposited: 15 May 2019 16:30
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 04:18
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Contributors
Author:
Florentin M. J. Bulot
Author:
Natasha H. C. Easton
Author:
Mihaela Apetroaie-Cristea
Author:
Andrew K. R. Morris
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