In recent years there has been growth in the development and availability of small, hand-held air quality monitoring devices or air sensors; even some that can be drone-mounted. The US EPA already has standards for bigger, traditional monitors. But such smaller devices can determine air quality in indoor space or the contributions of different sources to small areas of outdoor space. One area holding back this technology from even greater use and growth is the lack acceptable standards by the US EPA for using such equipment and the handling of its data. Companies, groups, etc. are reluctant to purchase and use such units if the data from them may not be accepted or trusted.

When will the US EPA develop such standards? The US EPA has had a number of in-house meetings and workshops with manufacturers and potential users to understand the use of indoor and outdoor air sensors. The US EPA needs to establish uniform standards to address issues for small air monitors for equipment design, usage, and maintenance and for data quality, interpretation, and management. The US EPA has been asked by facilities, public groups, and state agencies to develop policy on the use of air sensor data, such as for compliance with the federal government’s own NAAQS.

The US EPA is considering development of a certification program for air sensors. The agency recently produced a report evaluating peer-reviewed literature and other sources of information on a variety of sensors to identify criteria needed to make these policy decisions about appropriate techniques for operation and treatment of data collected See peer_review_and_supporting_literature_review_of_air_sensor_technology_performance_targets.pdf are appropriate for the intended application. The American Society for Testing and Material International (ASTM), which has done much work on establishing stack testing standards is involved with small air quality monitoring units, too.

We are in the midst of an information revolution. Nearly everybody has their own mobile phone, which does much more than call somebody, but is a repository of much information. It is easy to imagine a time – maybe relatively soon – when most offices, homes, retailers, gyms, etc. will have their own air sensors and be able to know the air quality of their spaces. With this data, people can change conditions to improve worker productivity, comfort of shoppers, and the health of residents or patients. Sensors can produce actual data that determine the air quality impacts of behaviors like cooking, barbequing, smoking, cleaning, and burning candles.

But first we need to have standards on how to use and maintain the equipment and manage and analyze the data. And for this, we are awaiting US EPA guidelines or rules.

CCES can help your entity evaluate your air quality and perform the technical tasks to determine whether emissions comply with current federal and state laws and to improve the quality. Contact us today at 914-584-6720 or at karell@CCESworld.com.