An Air Quality Monitoring device can help in analysing and keeping track of the amount of pollutants.
What is air pollution monitoring system?
The term indicates the state of the air around us.
- Good AQ refers to the clean, unpolluted and clear air. Clean air is essential to maintain the balance of all kinds of life on the planet.
- Poor AQ occurs when pollutants/emissions reach a high enough concentration to affect health and the environment. It is caused because of
natural reasons such as volcanic
- The eruption, windstorm dust
- human-made reasons such as volcanic eruption, windstorm dust
There are two types of Air Quality that one has to look out for:
Outdoor Air Quality
Outdoor AQ can be described as the quality of outdoor air present in the surrounding environment. The air pollution monitoring system would be useful in measuring the level of air pollutants. Air pollutants can be in any form – gas, liquid or solid substance that has been emitted into the atmosphere and in high enough concentrations causing a harmful impact in the wider area.
- The pollutants emitted directly into the air are called ‘primary pollutants.
- The ‘secondary pollutants’ are formed in the air when they react with other pollutants.
Emissions can be any substance released into the air from natural or human sources –
- The flow of gasses
- Liquid droplets
- Solid particles
All emissions do not become air pollutants, but many do cause significant health and environment problems.
Some air pollutants in an area depends on
- The number and size of emission sources
- The topography
- Weather
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
IAQ refers to the quality of air – inside and around the buildings and structures, mainly as it relates to the comfort and health of building occupants.
Recognizing and controlling common indoor elements can help reduce the risk of indoor health concerns. Health effects caused by indoor air elements may be experienced soon after exposure or, possibly, years later.
Elements affecting Air Quality
Carbon Di Oxide (CO2)
- A natural component of air
- Emitted by humans
- Related to human metabolic activity
- Indoor concentrations elevated as compared to outdoor
- High level of CO2 result in drowsiness, headaches, or lower function activity levels
Carbon Mono-Oxide (CO)
- one of the most acutely toxic air contaminants
- colorless, odorless and tasteless gas slightly less dense than air
- reduces oxygen capacity of the blood cells
- low and moderate concentrations can cause fatigue, angina, reduced vision and effect on the nervous system
- high levels can lead to nausea, unconsciousness and even death
Particulate matter
- liquid matter or microscopic solid suspended in the Earth’s atmosphere
- exposure can cause
- short-term health effects such as throat, eye, nose and lung irritation, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath
- long-term health effects such as asthma, lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory diseases, premature delivery, birth defects, and premature death
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
- compounds released as gasses from certain solids or liquids
- emitted by products such as paints & lacquers, cleaning fluids, pesticides, building materials & furnishing, copiers, printers, coated paper, glues, adhesives, permanent markers, photographic solutions, etc.
- health effects of VOC are: eye nose and throat irritation, difficulty in breathing and nausea
