The Changing Paradigm of Air Pollution Monitoring

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 47; no. 20; pp. 11369 - 11377
• Main Authors: Snyder, Emily G, Watkins, Timothy H, Solomon, Paul A, Thoma, Eben D, Williams, Ronald W, Hagler, Gayle S. W, Shelow, David, Hindin, David A, Kilaru, Vasu J, Preuss, Peter W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 15.10.2013
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - analysis; Air pollution; Air Pollution - analysis; Analysis methods; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Environmental monitoring; Environmental Monitoring - economics; Environmental Monitoring - instrumentation; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Exact sciences and technology; Human exposure; Humans; Outdoor air quality; Pollution; Public Health; Residence Characteristics; Sensors; United States; North America; America; Health and environment; Surveillance; Measurement sensor; Aerosols; Air pollution; Air quality; Measuring network; Gas detector; Public health
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es4022602

The air pollution monitoring paradigm is rapidly changing due to recent advances in (1) the development of portable, lower-cost air pollution sensors reporting data in near-real time at a high-time resolution, (2) increased computational and visualization capabilities, and (3) wireless communication/infrastructure. It is possible that these advances can support traditional air quality monitoring by supplementing ambient air monitoring and enhancing compliance monitoring. Sensors are beginning to provide individuals and communities the tools needed to understand their environmental exposures with these data individual and community-based strategies can be developed to reduce pollution exposure as well as understand linkages to health indicators. Each of these areas as well as corresponding challenges (e.g., quality of data) and potential opportunities associated with development and implementation of air pollution sensors are discussed.