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Air pollution affects everyone, influencing health, climate, and policy decisions worldwide. Monitoring air quality requires understanding not just what types of pollutants are present, but also how much, how many, and how big they are. TSI’s advanced measurement solutions provide real-time, high-resolution data on fine and ultrafine particles. This enables researchers, regulatory agencies, and environmental professionals to track air quality trends, assess pollution sources, and implement effective mitigation strategies.
Regulatory & Environmental Monitoring
Governments and environmental agencies worldwide use air quality networks to measure pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, NOx, SO2, CO, and O3. These networks ensure compliance with global standards like the WHO guidelines and EPA Air Quality Index (AQI), supporting policies that protect public health.
Urban & Industrial Pollution Tracking
Air quality monitoring plays a critical role in urban centers and industrial zones by assessing emissions from traffic, energy production, and manufacturing facilities. High-time-resolution data provides valuable insights into when and where pollution levels peak, supporting long-term strategies such as traffic regulation schedules, zoning decisions, or emissions control policies. This data is essential for protecting public health and guiding emission reduction strategies over time.
Stationary vs. Mobile Monitoring
Air quality monitoring can be performed using fixed stations (e.g., container-based setups) or mobile platforms (e.g., vehicles, backpacks, or drones). Stationary monitoring delivers long-term, continuous data at key locations, ideal for identifying peak pollution events and trend analysis. In contrast, mobile monitoring captures the spatial variability of pollutants and helps identify local hotspots, microenvironments, and short-term events. Both methods together provide a more complete picture of urban, industrial, or regional air quality dynamics.
Mass-Based Measurements (PM10, PM2.5)
Mass-based measurements express air pollution in micrograms per cubic meter and focus on larger particles that contribute significantly to total particulate matter. As the foundation for air quality regulations in many countries, this method remains the primary lens through which most of the world assesses particulate pollution, making it essential for compliance and understanding broad health impacts.
Number-Based Measurements
Particle number concentration (PNC) counts all airborne particles regardless of size. Since ultrafine particles are so small (and thus don't "weigh" much), a number-based measurement is often the based way to investigate these tiny particles that can have significant health effects. Their small sizes permit them to penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream.
Particle Size Distribution
Understanding how particle sizes are distributed in ambient air helps identify pollution sources, predict health impacts, and assess air quality trends over time. Size distribution analysis is critical for determining the effectiveness of filtration systems, optimizing control strategies, and evaluating how pollutants are transported and transformed in the atmosphere. This information is essential for both environmental monitoring and the development of regulatory standards.
Health Risks and Ultrafine Particles
Emerging Health Concerns and the Need for Monitoring
Health Risks and Ultrafine Particles
Emerging Health Concerns and the Need for Monitoring
There is now strong scientific consensus that UFPs represent a distinct and significant health hazard.
