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Fine Dust Monitoring Device

Air Pollution problem

Air pollution is one of the most significant threats to human health in the modern world. It is estimated that smog kills 5.5 million people every year, making it a leading cause of death. In places like Beijing China, it is estimated that simply living there is equivalent to smoking two packs of cigarettes per day. And, it is not just a problem for countries like China and India. In fact, London reached its entire year’s quota for air pollution within the first 5 days of 2017, and Paris is now routinely choked in smog.

One of the most interesting ways to combat smog is to monitor air quality yourself. In this article, I will show you that for less than $35, you can build a NodeMCU-based air quality monitor device (see The assembled prototype device with power source.). Since the device has its own power source (the USB battery stick), it can be placed anywhere there is WIFI signal. I typically place it in a room to monitor indoor air, or next to an open window to monitor outdoor air. It is not only a science project, but also a potential game changer for healthcare (including public health research), as we can now track an individual’s accurate exposure to smog and study how it correlates with health problems.

The assembled prototype device with power source.

Particulate matter

High concentrations of dust or PM is a serious health concern. pm 2.5 is less than 2.5 microns in diameter, and pm 10.0 is less than 10 microns in diameter. This means, a pm 10.0 report includes pm 2.5 as well. Both these particles are much smaller than a human hair, which is about 70 microns in width.

pm 10.0

Operations such as stone crushing, coal grinding, rotary kilning in cement industry and dust on road stirred by moving vehicles can increase pm 10.0 levels. pm 10.0 limit for 24-hour average is 150㎍/㎥.

pm 2.5

This is a result of fine particles produced from all types of combustion, including motor vehicles, thermal power plants, residential wood burning, forest fires, agricultural burning and other industrial processes. pm 2.5 limit for 24-hour average is 35㎍/㎥.