Measuring Air Pollution in Southern California Using Low-Cost Sensors

The recent emergence of smaller, portable, low-cost air quality sensors in the marketplace has provided new opportunities for the public to measure air quality. To assist local and state air quality managers, community groups, researchers and others, EPA is conducting studies to evaluate and develop air sensor technologies and provide information on using and interpreting sensor data. Results are being made available on EPA’s online Air Sensor Toolbox. One research project is the development of an air monitoring sensor kit for communities called the ‘Citizen Science Air Monitor’ or CSAM.  The CSAM includes lower cost, commercially available parts that can be customized for different uses. In June 2016, EPA collaborated with the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s Air Quality Sensor Performance Evaluation Center (AQ-SPEC) in California to study the performance of the CSAM sensor pods. Designed by EPA, the pods measure ozone, fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), temperature, and relative humidity. Learn more