Tag: exposure

Lessons from a Full Year of Personal Air Quality Monitoring

Sotirios PapathanasiouLeave a comment

We firmly embrace technology because it grants us the power to see what is otherwise invisible: the continuous, shifting dynamics of the air we breathe.

We are excited to share that our research paper, titled “Evaluating personal air quality monitors for PM2.5 and CO2: Insights from a year-long pilot study,” has been officially published in Atmospheric Pollution Research (DOI: 10.1016/j.apr.2026.103210).

Here is a brief overview of our journey and what drove this study.

The Year-Long Study

Our pilot study ran for a full 367 days, spanning from mid-summer 2024 to mid-summer 2025. We deliberately carried two portable air quality monitors with us everywhere we went to experience all seasonal changes and daily environmental challenges.

While device technology continues to evolve, carrying these monitors every day taught us a tremendous amount about human exposure and the practical realities of personal air monitoring.

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Review: aranet Radiation ☢️

Sotirios Papathanasiou1 Comment

The aranet Radiation tackles a whole new frontier: personal radiation safety. This device promises to empower you by monitoring gamma (γ), beta (β), and x-ray levels, giving you insights into your environment’s radiation for years.

Pros:

  • Peace of Mind: Being aware of radiation levels can be a major stress reliever, especially in areas where radiation concerns might exist like near nuclear power plants.
  • Long-Term Tracking: With a two-year data tracking capability, the Aranet Radiation allows you to identify trends and build a picture of your overall radiation exposure.
  • Battery Life: Aranet devices are known for their impressive battery life, and the Radiation model is likely to follow suit.
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Can an Air Expert Escape Air Pollution? A 2-Month, 6-Month, and Year-Long Experiment in Personal Air Quality

Sotirios Papathanasiou3 Comments

Air pollution is an invisible threat, silently impacting our health. But what if you knew exactly where it lurked, both indoors and outdoors? Could an air quality expert, armed with this knowledge and personal equipment, achieve the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality guidelines for extended periods?

This is the question I, Sotirios Papathanasiou, an air quality expert,  will try to figure out over the next year. Starting July 1st, 2024, I embarked on a unique experiment, tracking my personal air quality for a full year. I am monitoring two key air quality metrics: Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and PM2.5 (fine particulate matter). However, PM2.5 data will be excluded when relative humidity surpasses 70% because the limitations of low-cost sensors. I will be carrying an Atmotube Pro and an AIRVALENT everywhere I go.

I am your human guinea pig, carrying these portable air quality monitors everywhere – from my bedroom to my gym, from my kitchen while cooking to the beach on a weekend getaway. This comprehensive data will allow us to see if, despite my expertise in pollution sources and protective measures, I can consistently meet the WHO’s air quality guidelines.

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