This article documents my personal experiment tracking air quality exposure for 6 months using two portable, low-cost monitors: one for PM2.5 (particulate matter) and the other for CO2 (carbon dioxide). The experiment aimed to gain insights into personal exposure levels and understand the impact of lifestyle and environmental factors on air quality.

Observations

• PM2.5 Trends:
  • Seasonal Variation: PM2.5 concentrations exhibited a decreasing trend from July to December. This correlates with increased time spent indoors during the winter months, where filtration systems were utilized.
  • Daily Peaks: Significant peaks in PM2.5 were observed during daily commutes (gym, market, etc.). However, 24-hour average concentrations generally remained below the WHO daily limit of 15 μg/m³ for most days.

• CO2 Trends:
  • Seasonal Increase: CO2 levels showed an increasing trend during the winter. This is attributed to reduced ventilation due to the presence of wood-burning smoke outdoors.

• Location Impact:
  • Significant deviations from the general trend occurred during weekends and holidays when I relocated to a secondary residence. This location exhibited improved air quality due to the absence of wood-burning stoves, industrial processes, and agricultural activities.

Challenges and Insights

• Monitoring Consistency: Maintaining consistent monitoring with portable devices proved challenging. The devices themselves can be bulky and cumbersome to carry discreetly, especially in social or professional settings where maintaining a certain aesthetic is important. For example, carrying a device while wearing a formal outfit might be impractical or unflattering. Additionally, the need for regular charging adds another layer of complexity, requiring careful planning and potentially interrupting daily routines. These logistical hurdles can significantly impact the feasibility of long-term personal air quality monitoring for many individuals.
• Data Accessibility: The CO2 monitor’s e-ink display provided immediate and convenient feedback, facilitating timely adjustments to ventilation. In contrast, the lack of a display for the PM2.5 monitor required the use of a phone app, hindering real-time awareness of exposure levels. This highlights the importance of user-friendly interfaces for effective personal air quality monitoring.

Conclusion

Even for an air quality expert with a deep understanding of pollution sources, consistently maintaining daily PM2.5 concentrations below the WHO limit proved challenging. This suggests that the general public, lacking specialized knowledge and awareness, is likely exposed to even higher levels of air pollution. Factors such as limited understanding of pollution sources, lack of access to real-time air quality information, and insufficient resources to mitigate exposure contribute to this disparity. This observation underscores the critical need for increased public awareness, accessible air quality data, and effective public health interventions to reduce population exposure to harmful air pollutants.

This experiment provides valuable insights into personal air quality exposure. The observed trends emphasize the significant impact of lifestyle factors (e.g., commuting, indoor activities) and environmental conditions (e.g., seasonal variations, wood-burning smoke) on air quality. The challenges encountered underscore the need for more user-friendly and accessible air quality monitoring solutions to empower individuals to make informed decisions about their exposure.