Environmental sensors
Introduction
Air pollution sensors are devices that measure the presence of pollution in surrounding areas. They can be used for both outdoor and indoor environments. These sensors can be made at home or purchased from some manufacturers. Although there are several types of air pollution sensors, and some are specialized in certain aspects, most focus on five components: ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide "Nitrogen(I) oxide").
In the past these sensors were very expensive, but technological advances have made them more affordable and more widely distributed among the population. These sensors can serve different purposes and help raise awareness about environmental problems that go beyond human vision.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a repository of air quality data through the Air Quality System (AQS), which stores data from more than ten thousand monitors in the United States. Although the use of these sensors has long been expensive, during the 2010s there was a trend towards the development of portable air quality sensors, which can be worn individually to monitor air quality levels locally.[2][3].
These sensors, then, can help measure the coverage and spatio-temporal variety of chemical species, and allow citizens, and entire communities, to understand their exposure to the environment and the risks of air pollution.[4].
A research group led by William Griswold at the University of California gave sixteen workers wearable air pollution sensors and found "urban valleys" where buildings trapped pollution. The group also found that bus passengers have greater exposure than those in cars.[5]
History
In December 1952, the Great London Smog led to the deaths of thousands of people. This event was one of the great turning points in our environmental history, as it led to radical reflection on pollution control throughout the United Kingdom. This event promoted the Clean Air Act of 1956"), which may have had more consequences than originally intended.[6] This law led to changes in fuel sources and energy used by industry. Many citizens of large cities throughout the world suffered some type of health problem due to excess toxins and pollution in the air.
These catastrophic events led large cities to control and measure air pollution. This revolution changed the way we see and understand the environment today. Governments have developed the technology necessary to create air pollution sensors to measure toxins in the environment. More scientific research and technological advances allow people to be more concerned and aware of the air they breathe. Technology has made air pollution sensors more quickly available and affordable for personal use.