Research Program

Passive and active air samplers are both important tools in air pollution monitoring, each with its own advantages and applications.

In air pollution monitoring, the choice between passive and active samplers depends on factors like the specific pollutants of interest, the monitoring objectives (long-term trends vs. short-term concentrations), budget constraints, and the availability of infrastructure (such as power sources). Both types of samplers play complementary roles in providing comprehensive data for understanding and managing air quality.

Low-cost air quality sensors have become increasingly popular and accessible tools for air pollution monitoring and health assessment. Here’s how they contribute to these areas:Real-time Data: Low-cost sensors provide real-time or near-real-time data on various air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This continuous monitoring allows for quick identification of pollution spikes or trends.

1. Community Engagement
2. Spatial Coverage
3. Cost-Effective Solutions
4. Health Impact Assessment

By integrating GPS, GIS, and air quality models, organizations and researchers can achieve several benefits:

• Real-time Monitoring: Combining GPS-enabled mobile monitoring with GIS allows for real-time visualization of air quality data on maps, providing stakeholders with up-to-date information for decision-making.
• Exposure Assessment: GIS-based spatial analysis can assess population exposure to pollutants by overlaying air quality data with demographic data, identifying vulnerable communities that may be disproportionately affected by poor air quality.
• Resource Optimization: GPS tracking of monitoring equipment and vehicles optimizes their deployment, ensuring efficient coverage of monitoring areas and targeted sampling in pollution hotspots.

Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS), and Orbitrap mass spectrometry are advanced analytical techniques used for particulate matter (PM) analysis, particularly for identifying and quantifying organic compounds present in PM samples.

This integrated approach provides detailed insights into the composition of PM, including the presence of organic pollutants, which is valuable for assessing environmental and health impacts and informing air quality management strategies.

Citizen science plays a vital role in air pollution monitoring, bringing together communities, researchers, and policymakers to gather data, raise awareness, and drive action. Here’s how citizen science contributes to air pollution monitoring:

1. Data Collection:
2. Increased Awareness:
3. Data Quality Assurance:
4. Policy Influence:
5. Innovation and Collaboration:
6. Public Health Impact:

Overall, citizen science enhances air pollution monitoring by expanding monitoring networks, raising awareness, ensuring data quality, influencing policies, fostering innovation, and promoting public engagement in environmental stewardship.