How To Test Outdoor Air Quality

Emissions from vehicles, smoke, dust, fuel burning and industry are some of the many causes of outdoor pollution (also referred to as ambient air pollution). Many pollutants within emissions are harmful to human health when they occur in high concentrations.

This article discusses some major outdoor air pollutants and how you can monitor them.

Learn more here.

About Outdoor Air Quality

Even though it’s not always visible, outdoor air quality impacts our everyday lives. Outdoor air quality refers to the concentration of particular pollutants in the out-of-doors atmosphere.

Below we examine the most commonly measured pollutants in outdoor air, along with the corresponding safety standards set by the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure.

1. Particulate Matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀)

Particulate matter refers to microscopic solid or liquid matter suspended in the air. You will often find particulate matter expressed as 'PM' with particulate matter size in micrometres (µm), for example, PM₁₀, PM_2.5 or PM₁.

Adverse health effects are closely correlated to particulate matter size. The most common particulate matter measured by outdoor air quality meters is PM_2.5. Levels of PM_2.5 are known to cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and cancers. Sources of particulate matter include smoke from fires and wood heaters, car and truck exhaust, and airborne industry pollutants. For information on pollutant levels and maximum concentration standards for particulate matter, see Table 1 (below).

Table 1 Particulate Matter levels and maximum concentration (Source: National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure 2015)

2. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂)

Nitrogen Dioxide is a highly reactive gas formed by emissions from vehicles and industry. Short term exposure to high levels of Nitrogen Dioxide can act as an irritant to the eyes and nose. Repeated or long term exposure results in acute or chronic bronchitis.

NO₂ is the primary source of nitrate aerosols, which form a fraction of PM_2.5. Further to this, the presence of Nitrogen Dioxide in the air can contribute to the formation and modification of other air pollutants, e.g. Nitrogen dioxide reacts with sunlight, leading to ozone (O₃) formation. For information on pollutant levels and maximum concentration standards for nitrogen dioxide, see Table 2 (below).

Table 2 Nitrogen Dioxide levels and maximum concentrations (Source: National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure 2015)

3. Ozone (O₃)

Ozone at or near ground level is one of the main components of photochemical smog. Ozone has several origins but commonly forms by a reaction between sunlight and various pollutions such as VOCs and nitrogen oxides. Ozone reaches maximum levels during sunny weather periods, leading to the risk of breathing issues, reduced lung function, and asthma attacks. Long term exposure can cause lung disease. For information on pollutant levels and maximum concentration standards for ozone, see Table 3 (below).

Table 3 Ozone levels and maximum concentrations (Source: National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure 2015)

Other Pollutants

There’s a host of other common outdoor pollutants caused by emissions such as VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, and lead. These pollutants, when present in outdoor air, may also harm health. See the full table of pollutant standards in Appendix 1, Table 4 (below).

How to Test Outdoor Air Quality

An outdoor air quality tester is the most efficient way to test and monitor outdoor air quality. There are outdoor air quality testers suitable for both home users and professional users. The most common application for outdoor testers include:

• Personal exposure data collection from around a home
• Environmental impact assessments
• Government air quality surveys
• Responding to complaints from the public; and
• Short term fixed monitoring on building sites.

Outdoor Air Quality Testers

Instrument Choice Scientists have prepared three examples of outdoor air quality testers listing with what they measure, their range and examples of applications.

AirLink Air Quality Sensor Product Code: IC-7210 Backed by Davis Instruments reputation for quality and durability, the AirLink Air Quality Sensor accurately measures Particulate Matter PM1, PM2.5, and PM10.  This versatile air quality sensor uploads all collected outdoor air quality data to the Davis Weatherlink platform via WiFi. On the WeatherLink platform, you can view collected data plus additional weather information such as temperature, humidity, dew point, heat index, and wet bulb temperature.  Specifications Measures: PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 Range: PM1: 0.3 to 1.0 um; PM2.5:1.0 to 2.5 um; PM10: 2.5 to 10 um  Applications: A great tool for anyone want

Outdoor Air Quality Test Kit (Pro) Product code: IC-OAQTKP   The IC-OAQTKP includes the highly sought-after series 500 portable monitor and several sensors, including; a particulate matter sensor and four gas pollutant gas sensors. Users can evaluate pollutants by just swapping the sensor heads for the particular pollutant they wish to monitor – easy!  Further noteworthy features of the IC-OAQTKP kit include; The ability to zero and span calibrate sensors out in the field, A long-life battery, Data logging of up to 8188 records, Included PC software, Display of MIN/MAX/AVG values on the LCD, and; An optional outdoor enclosure provides the option to leave the monitor in situ for short term monitoring (sold separately).  Specifications Measures: Particulate matter, Ozone, Nitrogen Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Temperature and Humidity  Range: Particulate matter (PM2.5:1.0 to 2.5 um; PM10: 2.5 to 10 um), Ozone (0-0.15ppm), Nitrogen Dioxide (0-1ppm), Carbon Monoxide (0-25ppm), Volitile Organic Compounds (VOCs)(0-25ppm PID)  Applications: A professional’s choice for air quality consultants and air quality professionals who want a full set of tools to measure a range of common pollutants in ambient outdoor air and require portability. Examples: Environmental Impact Assessments, Government Air Quality Surveys and for responding to complaints from the public.

NEMo Outdoor Product code: IC-NE-KIT600 The NEMo Outdoor is a highly customisable, modular station. The station’s default measurement parameters include temperature, relative humidity, pressure, and Light Volatile Organic Compounds (LVOC).  Users can select a range of additional sensors to measure the following pollutants; PM 1/2.5/10, Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Ozone (O3), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Ammonia NH3, and Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S).  The internal memory, ability to connect to various IoT platforms (Sigfox, LoRa, Modbus RS485, LTE etc.), and flexible mounting options make the IC-NE-KIT600 a robust and practical tool for long-term air quality monitoring applications and studies. Want to customise your own NEMo outdoor? Contact us!  Specifications Measures: Sensors for the IC-NE-KIT600 include; PM 1/2.5/10, Light VOCs,  Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Ozone (O3), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Ammonia (NH3), and Hydrogen Sulfide 0-200ppm or 0-1000ppb(H2S).  Range: PM 1/2.5/10 (0.3 μm to 10 um), Light VOCs (30ppb to 5ppm), Nitrogen Monoxide (1 ppb - 10 ppm), Nitrogen Dioxide (1 ppb - 17 ppm), Carbon Monoxide (1 ppb - 6 800 ppb), Ozone (1 ppb - 7 600 ppb), Sulphur Dioxide (1 ppm - 9 000 ppb), Ammonia (1 ppm - 87 ppm), and Hydrogen Sulfide 0-200ppm or 0-1000ppb(H2S).  Applications: The IC-NE-KIT600 is suitable for both short and long term fixed-site monitoring. Examples: Building sites, for research, near heavy industrial areas such as cities and public areas.

Conclusion

Whether you are looking to monitor outdoor air quality around the home, in public spaces or for research, there’s an extensive range of outdoor air quality testers available to suit any budget, parameter and accuracy requirements.

Didn’t see what you were looking for in the stations above? Browse all air quality sensors here.

Want more information on any of the products mentioned above? Speak with an Instrument Choice Scientist! We're here to help! Call 1300 737 871 or email [email protected].

ing to measure particulate matter around the home or workplace.

Appendix 1: 

Table 4 Standards for Pollutants as set by National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure 2015