Posted on 08/04/2018 11:20:56 AM PDT by Reno89519
Have you ever wanted to confirm and measure your environment directly, rather than rely on the government or others? I added an air quality detector to my own instruments this week—now can monitor in real-time my air quality, radiation, and weather. I've even got a surveyor's plumb hanging on a string over a target to visually observe earthquakes, it works, but is uncalibrated and gives satisfaction that yes, there is an earthquake underway. Minutes later I may get the email from USGS and UNR's seismological laboratory. But I distract from what I'd like to discuss and ask about today, air quality detectors.
Anyway, my initial observations was that the device seemed consistent with local readings, not far off outside, then lower, as to be expected, inside. Yesterday we started out with great air, then in the afternoon got intense smoke from California. I took the monitor out with me and readings incredibly high, multiple times the nearest time-wise reports via the EPA, state, and county reports. As I could feel the smoke in my throat and eyes yesterday, plus a sudden headache, I didn't doubt my readings, even if high.
Today, inside reports are moderate with PM2.5 running near 60 ug/m3 and PM10 around 75 ug/m3. Surprisingly high for indoor reading. I set the device outside on the upstairs deck and got PM2.5 at around 175 ug/m3 and PM10 at around 500 ug/m3. Personally, I can smell smoke, my throat is scratchy, and eyes dry feeling. Both outside and when inside. Plus a very mild headache. We are now wearing N95 respirators, which we keep on hand for bad air days. Got a bunch of these several years ago when heavy smoke filled the valley, even worse than today. Our replacement filters are N100, but that is distraction from point of my discussion.
Okay, even while we can feel, experience and even see the bad air (visibility is down to a mile or so), our readings do not remotely mach the government readings (See EPA's Air Now).
So, what to trust? There are no meaningful ways to calibrate the detector. Seems true of most. They are presented as working or not. I have no reason based on good and bad days, albeit only a few days of observation, to not trust the device except for the extreme discrepancy with local readings. The local reading, I presume, are an average of the 8-10 monitoring points in the Reno-Sparks-Tahoe area. (I plan to reach out to them next week and see if I can get real-time reading and location so that I might sit nearby for half-an-hour and see if readings are similar. I read an article by some Americans in Bejing doing the same to verify their detector with that of the US Embassy.)
Do you have an air quality detector? Your experience and recommendations?
Oops, forget [VANITY] tag on title.
Yes , I have a Nose and I smell BBQ
I’ve never heard of personal Air Quality Detectors. Are they for both indoor and outdoor use? I would love to have such a device on a wristband and be able to constantly know if what I’m breathing isn’t poisonous.
I like the simplicity of the weather rock.
Most reliable sensor ever.
Billions of years can't be wrong...
There are some truly personal and portable monitors but the trade off is simplified report—almost Green, Orange, Red—or just one measurement, maybe just PM2.5. Others, as price goes up add in lots of other monitoring. I’ve focused on only particulate matter for the moment. Try a search on Amazon and see the near overwhelming selection of devices.
Inside or outside. North valleys I can barely see the ridge line less than a mile away. No Peavine, can’t see Red Rocks or the back of Lemmon Valley. Worst day so far since it started.
I find your post interesting. I’m in Hawaii on the island with the volcano errupting. My house was actually taken out by the flow but now I’m living in an area on the same island well away from the flow but air quality is sometimes an issue. SO2 is a problem as well as smoke and volcanic dust. One of your air sensors sounds like a good idea. Does yours measure SO2?
Do they detect mold indoors?
Put a parrot on your shoulder. If it keels over, run.... (joking)
"????...way cool,a neighborhood cat toy
“Anyone using an air quality detector?”
I have an old one, an ACME from the days it was called a BS detector.
I’ll probably have to upgrade someday.
Do you also have a Indian weather rock?
Yea air quality sucks in Reno today. My instrument is my eyes. I can’t see Peavine from my deck today. AQ is very bad.
Yes, I can’t see California from my deck. Aside from choking on the air, not sure that is altogether bad.
For really smoggy days...
Why bother? If I can’t see the mountains, it’s really bad. If I climb up 2,500 feet and look down and see a sea of brown crud, I know it’s bad. If I smell ozone or smoke, I know it’s bad. It the car gets a layer of gritty grime in 24 hours p, I know it’s bad.
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