The air we breathe indoors is largely influenced by what is available outdoors. Thus if there is a fire outside chances are that some of the pollutants are present indoors too. Air monitors were made to help identify when there is a considerable amount of pollutant indoors. Before we go in deeply let’s look at a few indoor pollutants readily found in our homes. They include the following:
- Pesticides
- Biological pollutants( Mites, Allergens, Moulds)
- Radon
- Asbestos
The above can be classified into two categories: Particulate and Gaseous Pollutants.
Particulate Pollutants
As the name implies, this is generally consisting of tiny particles that are suspended in the air. Nearby forest fires, volcanoes, and dust storms are the major sources of particulate pollutants in residential areas. These activities emit harmful substances like mineral dust or ammonium nitrate into the atmosphere.
Gaseous Pollutant
This is the most common pollutant present in the air. Gaseous pollutant primarily includes sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide. These are injected into the air are fossil fuel burns.
Apart from the above, Air monitors also check on the quantity of Radon in the atmosphere. Now we have not mentioned Radon before but Radon is a radioactive element. It is not a good thing to be breathing in and specifically, Radon could lead to lungs cancer. Interestingly, Radon gets into our homes through the soil. Rocks, building materials, water supply, and the soil are known to emit Radon.
Air Monitors
Air monitors help detect how safe or unsafe the environment is in terms of the amount of air pollutant that is in the atmosphere. This instrument is really helpful for people with underlying lung illnesses or breathing problems. Air monitoring devices come with sensors that enable them to perform their function. These sensors make use of electric current to determine the presence of any of the harmful substances already mention. For detecting Radon, another method is often used.
To measure the amount of Radon, a solid-state detector is used to measure alpha particle energies in the air. The detector is raised to a high voltage to collect the charged Radon decay product as they are formed. Air monitors come with indicators that show the level of pollutants in the air
Below are a few Air monitors you could check out:
- uHoo Indoor Air Sensor
- Ecowitt WH0290 Air Quality Monitor
- Awair’s Element Indoor Air Quality Monitor
- Atmotube Pro Portable Air Quality Monitor
- IQAir Air Visual Pro
- Amazon smart air quality monitor
Ensuring one breathes in good air is a big deal, surprisingly, these devices are not very costly but their functions are much needed, especially in homes where we have elderly individuals or individuals with underlying lung diseases.