Verification and Usability of Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Tools in the Framework of Health-Related Studies
Indoor air quality (IAQ) significantly impacts human health, particularly in enclosed spaces where people spend most of their time. This study evaluates the performance of low-cost IAQ sensors, focusing on their ability to measure carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) and particulate matter (P...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Air |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-4168/3/1/3 |
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| author | Alicia Aguado Sandra Rodríguez-Sufuentes Francisco Verdugo Alberto Rodríguez-López María Figols Johannes Dalheimer Alba Gómez-López Rubèn González-Colom Artur Badyda Jose Fermoso |
| author_facet | Alicia Aguado Sandra Rodríguez-Sufuentes Francisco Verdugo Alberto Rodríguez-López María Figols Johannes Dalheimer Alba Gómez-López Rubèn González-Colom Artur Badyda Jose Fermoso |
| author_sort | Alicia Aguado |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Indoor air quality (IAQ) significantly impacts human health, particularly in enclosed spaces where people spend most of their time. This study evaluates the performance of low-cost IAQ sensors, focusing on their ability to measure carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) and particulate matter (PM) under real-world conditions. Measurements provided by these sensors were verified against calibrated reference equipment. The study utilized two commercial devices from inBiot and Kaiterra, comparing their outputs to a reference sensor across a range of CO<sub>2</sub> concentrations (500–1200 ppm) and environmental conditions (21–25 °C, 27–92% RH). Data were analyzed for relative error, temporal stability, and reproducibility. Results indicate strong correlation between low-cost sensors (LCSs) and the reference sensor at lower CO<sub>2</sub> concentrations, with minor deviations at higher levels. Environmental conditions had minimal impact on sensor performance, highlighting robustness to temperature and humidity within the tested ranges. For PM measurements, low-cost sensors effectively tracked trends, but inaccuracies increased with particle concentration. Overall, these findings support the feasibility of using low-cost sensors for non-critical IAQ monitoring, offering an affordable alternative for tracking CO<sub>2</sub> and PM trends. Additionally, LCSs can assess long-term exposure to contaminants, providing insights into potential health risks and useful information for non-expert users. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e168bc5fd6404feb8a3fb16ce81ec8df |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2813-4168 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Air |
| spelling | doaj-art-e168bc5fd6404feb8a3fb16ce81ec8df2025-08-20T03:10:50ZengMDPI AGAir2813-41682025-01-0131310.3390/air3010003Verification and Usability of Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Tools in the Framework of Health-Related StudiesAlicia Aguado0Sandra Rodríguez-Sufuentes1Francisco Verdugo2Alberto Rodríguez-López3María Figols4Johannes Dalheimer5Alba Gómez-López6Rubèn González-Colom7Artur Badyda8Jose Fermoso9CARTIF Technology Center, 47151 Boecillo, SpainCARTIF Technology Center, 47151 Boecillo, SpainCARTIF Technology Center, 47151 Boecillo, SpainCentro de Investigaciones Energéticas Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), 28040 Madrid, SpaininBiot Monitoring, 31192 Mutilva, Spaini2M GmbH, 71636 Ludwigsburg, GermanyInstitut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, 08036 Barcelona, SpainInstitut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, 08036 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Informatics and Environment Quality Research, Warsaw University of Technology, 00-653 Warsaw, PolandCARTIF Technology Center, 47151 Boecillo, SpainIndoor air quality (IAQ) significantly impacts human health, particularly in enclosed spaces where people spend most of their time. This study evaluates the performance of low-cost IAQ sensors, focusing on their ability to measure carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) and particulate matter (PM) under real-world conditions. Measurements provided by these sensors were verified against calibrated reference equipment. The study utilized two commercial devices from inBiot and Kaiterra, comparing their outputs to a reference sensor across a range of CO<sub>2</sub> concentrations (500–1200 ppm) and environmental conditions (21–25 °C, 27–92% RH). Data were analyzed for relative error, temporal stability, and reproducibility. Results indicate strong correlation between low-cost sensors (LCSs) and the reference sensor at lower CO<sub>2</sub> concentrations, with minor deviations at higher levels. Environmental conditions had minimal impact on sensor performance, highlighting robustness to temperature and humidity within the tested ranges. For PM measurements, low-cost sensors effectively tracked trends, but inaccuracies increased with particle concentration. Overall, these findings support the feasibility of using low-cost sensors for non-critical IAQ monitoring, offering an affordable alternative for tracking CO<sub>2</sub> and PM trends. Additionally, LCSs can assess long-term exposure to contaminants, providing insights into potential health risks and useful information for non-expert users.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-4168/3/1/3indoor air qualitycarbon dioxideparticulate mattermonitoring toolslow-cost sensorshealth |
| spellingShingle | Alicia Aguado Sandra Rodríguez-Sufuentes Francisco Verdugo Alberto Rodríguez-López María Figols Johannes Dalheimer Alba Gómez-López Rubèn González-Colom Artur Badyda Jose Fermoso Verification and Usability of Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Tools in the Framework of Health-Related Studies Air indoor air quality carbon dioxide particulate matter monitoring tools low-cost sensors health |
| title | Verification and Usability of Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Tools in the Framework of Health-Related Studies |
| title_full | Verification and Usability of Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Tools in the Framework of Health-Related Studies |
| title_fullStr | Verification and Usability of Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Tools in the Framework of Health-Related Studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Verification and Usability of Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Tools in the Framework of Health-Related Studies |
| title_short | Verification and Usability of Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Tools in the Framework of Health-Related Studies |
| title_sort | verification and usability of indoor air quality monitoring tools in the framework of health related studies |
| topic | indoor air quality carbon dioxide particulate matter monitoring tools low-cost sensors health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-4168/3/1/3 |
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