Low-cost monitoring of atmospheric PM—development and testing

• Published in: Journal of environmental management Vol. 304; p. 114158
• Main Authors: Báthory, Csongor, Dobó, Zsolt, Garami, Attila, Palotás, Árpád, Tóth, Pál
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 15.02.2022
• Subjects: Aerosols - analysis; Air Pollutants - analysis; Air Pollution - analysis; Environmental Monitoring; Humans; Low-cost sensors; Particulate matter; Particulate Matter - analysis; Reproducibility of Results; Environmental monitoring; Low-cost sensors; Particulate matter
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.114158

Ambient particulate matter (PM) pollution is a significant problem in many urban and rural regions and has severe human health implications. Real-time, spatially dense monitoring using a network of low-cost sensors (LCS) was previously proposed as a way to alleviate the problem of PM. In this study, the performance of an LCS (Plantower PMS7003), a candidate for use in such a network, was investigated. The sensor was calibrated in a controlled climate chamber against a standard reference aerosol monitor. Reproducibility and calibration were evaluated in laboratory tests. Long-term, in-field performance was studied via deploying an LCS assembly at an environmental monitoring station. Results indicated excellent unit-to-unit consistency; however, each sensor needed to be calibrated individually as their characteristics varied slightly. Based on the results of a 15-month field test, quantitative and indicative LCS performance appeared promising: overall indicative accuracy was approximately 73–75% with comparable precision and recall. It is advised that the LCS are cleaned after 6–8 months of operation. Overall, the LCS appeared suitable for low-cost monitoring. •Long-term, in-field testing of a low-cost atmospheric PM sensor.•Low-cost sensor can be suitably calibrated in a laboratory.•Results indicate good indicative monitoring performance.•Maintenance is required every 6–8 months.