How to Select an Air Pollution Monitor

Well, let's see now: voltage, mounting location, ingress protection rating, output type, vandalism protection, battery back-up and whether you can get it mail order from me for a start. What did you have in mind? <Splutter, wheeze>

Certain pollutants like methane, CO2 can be measured by burning it in a pelistor and measure the change in resistance.

Specify the pollutant's and it would be possible to answer your question in detail.

Step 1: identify the pollutants to be monitored

Step 2: choose the sensor array to detect the specific pollutants

step 3: assemble and calibrate the hardware

step 4: Mount the array at the proper location and task the operator to monitor it.

step 5: margaritas all around to celebrate the installation

steps 1 to 4 are GAs, step 5 might be difficult to accomplish in any of the ME countries.

step 1: can also to be more clear ie.. identify the pollutants and the accuracy of monitoration also plays important role to proceed the step 2 because it involves much cost difference to select the sensor type and vendor

It depends a lot on what precision and what gases or types of particulate matter are needed.

If its for simple alarms (on/off), then just gas sensors would be enough and Figaro's are the most popular. RS (London) is a good distributor for Figaro.

If you need high precision up to ppms or ppbs (parts per million/billion), then you'll have to get analyzers, that unfortunately are quite large, about the size of a computer case or more. Horiba (California, US) would be a good start point as a producer.

There are other companies out there, like AirQual from New Zealand. They make OEM boards with their own sensors.

What is you application?

This link was published today on indicates it will be possible to measure gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone from space.

http://www.pollutiononline.com/article.mvc/Carbon-Dioxide-In-Atmosphere-Can-Now-Be-0001