March 22, 2024 What Is the Purpose of Air Quality Monitoring?

Air quality monitoring has always been a serious consideration, the pollutants in the air define its quality, this can impact our health.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many of us became more aware of the many different things contained within the air that we breathe, however, in certain industries, this has been a serious consideration for many years. The pollutants in the air define its quality, and this can have an impact on our health.

In this article, CEM Solutions take a look at how we monitor air quality and why it is so important.

What is air quality?

The air around us might look clean, but it very rarely is. It has been found to carry a huge number of pollutants in the form of dangerous gases, as well as particulate matter such as dust that are the source of many health problems. In addition to this, the air is also a very effective transportation method for all of the viruses that we pass on to one another.

The greater the number of pollutants there are in the air, the poorer the quality is deemed to be, and this can have some very serious consequences for our health. Generally, we will treat indoor air quality and outdoor air quality differently as they are subject to different conditions.

How do we monitor air quality?

During the process of air quality monitoring, ambient air pollution samples are collected and measured to establish what is contained within them, and how concentrated the pollutants are. Air quality can be monitored in a number of different ways, depending on what pollutants might be a cause for concern.

For example, in industrial environments, dust monitors are often in place to check for high levels of particles, whilst in indoor settings you might find carbon monoxide detectors that are on the lookout for noxious gases. In some cases, workers may even carry portable monitors that check what they are being exposed to in particular areas, or as they move from one space to another, in order to alert them if they are facing dangerous levels.

Why is air quality monitoring important?

The only way that we can improve air quality is to monitor it. If we are able to see how badly the air around us is polluted and we can identify what it is polluted with, then we are in a better position to find ways to improve it.

Poor air quality can have a massive effect on our health. Not only can it carry viruses and bacteria that are capable of making us ill, but it can also carry a wide range of gases, particles and pollutants that are all hazardous to health. This is of particular importance to anyone who has respiratory difficulties or conditions such as asthma, as it can make them much worse. Monitoring air quality enables us to make changes in order to keep ourselves safe and reduce the effect on our health.

Due to the serious impact on our health, regulations have been brought in relating to safe levels where air quality is concerned, and there can be hefty penalties for failing to adhere to this. Therefore, air quality monitoring is very important in ensuring that businesses remain compliant and meet the standards that have been set out by the relevant government agencies.

Air pollution could be a huge problem as the climate crisis continues to get worse. This could have a massive effect on the health of the nation and even the world, so it is important to monitor this. By checking the air quality in homes and workplaces, we can understand more about the air that we are breathing in and take remedial action to improve our air quality when we need to.

About the Author:
Mike Lloyd is the Managing Director at CEM Solutions, who offer products and services to cover all aspects of monitoring emissions to air and process control.

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