Articles | Volume 16, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-1311-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-1311-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
13 Mar 2023
Research article |
| 13 Mar 2023
| 13 Mar 2023
An evaluation of the U.S. EPA's correction equation for PurpleAir sensor data in smoke, dust, and wintertime urban pollution events
School of STEM, University of Washington Bothell, Bothell, WA 98011, USA
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
Colleen Miller
School of STEM, University of Washington Bothell, Bothell, WA 98011, USA
now at: Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Katie Thompson
School of STEM, University of Washington Bothell, Bothell, WA 98011, USA
Brandon Finley
School of STEM, University of Washington Bothell, Bothell, WA 98011, USA
Manna Nelson
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Seattle University, Seattle, WA 98122, USA
James Ouimette
independent researcher: Santa Rosa, CA 95409, USA
Elisabeth Andrews
NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences,
University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
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Cited
32 citations as recorded by crossref.
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- Air Quality Sensor Experts Convene: Current Quality Assurance Considerations for Credible Data K. Barkjohn et al. 10.1021/acsestair.4c00125
- A participatory study of indoor environment quality in homes of children and youth in Kanehsatake First Nation R. Ng et al. 10.1038/s41598-024-76328-7
- Observational Constraints on the Aerosol Optical Depth–Surface PM2.5 Relationship during Alaskan Wildfire Seasons T. Zhao et al. 10.1021/acsestair.4c00120
- Dust Under the Radar: Rethinking How to Evaluate the Impacts of Dust Events on Air Quality in the United States K. Ardon‐Dryer et al. 10.1029/2023GH000953
- Calibration of PurpleAir low-cost particulate matter sensors: model development for air quality under high relative humidity conditions M. Mathieu-Campbell et al. 10.5194/amt-17-6735-2024
- Atmospheric heating in the US from saharan dust: Tracking the June 2020 event with surface and satellite observations M. Mehra et al. 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2023.119988
- Air Quality Monitoring with Low-Cost Sensors: A Record of the Increase of PM2.5 during Christmas and New Year’s Eve Celebrations in the City of Queretaro, Mexico A. Rodríguez-Trejo et al. 10.3390/atmos15080879
- A Bayesian-Optimized Surrogate Model Integrating Deep Learning Algorithms for Correcting PurpleAir Sensor Measurements M. Ahmed et al. 10.3390/atmos15121535
- Assessing low-cost sensor for characterizing temporal variation of PM2.5 in Bandung, Indonesia S. Kurniawati et al. 10.1016/j.kjs.2024.100297
- Infiltration of Outdoor PM2.5 Pollution into Homes with Evaporative Coolers in Utah County D. Sonntag et al. 10.3390/su16010177
- Evaluation of Long-Term Performance of Six PM2.5 Sensor Types K. Barkjohn et al. 10.3390/s25041265
- Seasonally optimized calibrations improve low-cost sensor performance: long-term field evaluation of PurpleAir sensors in urban and rural India M. Campmier et al. 10.5194/amt-16-4357-2023
- Improving PM10 sensor accuracy in urban areas through calibration in Timișoara R. Blaga & S. Gautam 10.1038/s41612-024-00812-0
- Five Years of Accurate PM2.5 Measurements Demonstrate the Value of Low-Cost PurpleAir Monitors in Areas Affected by Woodsmoke D. Robinson et al. 10.3390/ijerph20237127
- Technical note: Identifying a performance change in the Plantower PMS 5003 particulate matter sensor N. Searle et al. 10.1016/j.jaerosci.2023.106256
- Application and validation of a wearable monitor for assessing time- and location-resolved exposures to particulate matter in California’s Central Valley X. Li et al. 10.1080/02786826.2024.2415481
- Fundamentals of low-cost aerosol sensor design and operation J. Ouimette et al. 10.1080/02786826.2023.2285935
- Exploration of intra-city and inter-city PM2.5 regional calibration models to improve low-cost sensor performance S. Jain & N. Zimmerman 10.1016/j.jaerosci.2024.106335
- Particle number size distribution evaluation of Plantower PMS5003 low-cost PM sensors – a field experiment A. Caseiro et al. 10.1039/D4EA00086B
- Indication Variability of the Particulate Matter Sensors Dependent on Their Location A. Wiora et al. 10.3390/s24051683
- Highly Time-Resolved Apportionment of Carbonaceous Aerosols from Wildfire Using the TC–BC Method: Camp Fire 2018 Case Study M. Ivančič et al. 10.3390/toxics11060497
- Is the smoke aloft? Caveats regarding the use of the Hazard Mapping System (HMS) smoke product as a proxy for surface smoke presence across the United States T. Liu et al. 10.1071/WF23148
- Practical considerations for using low-cost sensors to assess wildfire smoke exposure in school and childcare settings O. Stampfer et al. 10.1038/s41370-024-00677-8
- Dataset on indoor and outdoor PM2.5 concentrations at two residences using low-cost sensors in the Rio Grande Valley Region of South Texas K. Shah et al. 10.1016/j.dib.2025.111492
- Spatial Variation of PM2.5 Indoors and Outdoors: Results from 261 Regulatory Monitors Compared to 14,000 Low-Cost Monitors in Three Western States over 4.7 Years L. Wallace & T. Zhao 10.3390/s23094387
- High-resolution urban air quality monitoring from citizen science data with echo-state transformer networks M. Bonas & S. Castruccio 10.1093/jrsssc/qlaf007
- Urban Air Quality Management at Low Cost Using Micro Air Sensors: A Case Study from Accra, Ghana C. Hodoli et al. 10.1021/acsestair.4c00172
- Indoor and ambient influences on PM2.5 exposure and well-being for a rail impacted community and implications for personal protections I. Torres et al. 10.1088/1748-9326/ad90f5
- Field evaluation of low-cost particulate matter (PM) sensor instruments in indoor and outdoor environments: A university lecture hall and urban southeastern United States S. Westgate et al. 10.1080/02786826.2025.2484244
- Correction and Accuracy of PurpleAir PM2.5 Measurements for Extreme Wildfire Smoke K. Barkjohn et al. 10.3390/s22249669
- Size-Resolved Field Performance of Low-Cost Sensors for Particulate Matter Air Pollution E. Molina Rueda et al. 10.1021/acs.estlett.3c00030
30 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Environmental Impact by Particulate Material and Meteorological Parameters on the Incidence of Positive Cases of COVID-19 During the First Year of the Pandemic in a High Andean City I. Miranda Hankgo et al. 10.1007/s41748-024-00477-y
- Air Quality Sensor Experts Convene: Current Quality Assurance Considerations for Credible Data K. Barkjohn et al. 10.1021/acsestair.4c00125
- A participatory study of indoor environment quality in homes of children and youth in Kanehsatake First Nation R. Ng et al. 10.1038/s41598-024-76328-7
- Observational Constraints on the Aerosol Optical Depth–Surface PM2.5 Relationship during Alaskan Wildfire Seasons T. Zhao et al. 10.1021/acsestair.4c00120
- Dust Under the Radar: Rethinking How to Evaluate the Impacts of Dust Events on Air Quality in the United States K. Ardon‐Dryer et al. 10.1029/2023GH000953
- Calibration of PurpleAir low-cost particulate matter sensors: model development for air quality under high relative humidity conditions M. Mathieu-Campbell et al. 10.5194/amt-17-6735-2024
- Atmospheric heating in the US from saharan dust: Tracking the June 2020 event with surface and satellite observations M. Mehra et al. 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2023.119988
- Air Quality Monitoring with Low-Cost Sensors: A Record of the Increase of PM2.5 during Christmas and New Year’s Eve Celebrations in the City of Queretaro, Mexico A. Rodríguez-Trejo et al. 10.3390/atmos15080879
- A Bayesian-Optimized Surrogate Model Integrating Deep Learning Algorithms for Correcting PurpleAir Sensor Measurements M. Ahmed et al. 10.3390/atmos15121535
- Assessing low-cost sensor for characterizing temporal variation of PM2.5 in Bandung, Indonesia S. Kurniawati et al. 10.1016/j.kjs.2024.100297
- Infiltration of Outdoor PM2.5 Pollution into Homes with Evaporative Coolers in Utah County D. Sonntag et al. 10.3390/su16010177
- Evaluation of Long-Term Performance of Six PM2.5 Sensor Types K. Barkjohn et al. 10.3390/s25041265
- Seasonally optimized calibrations improve low-cost sensor performance: long-term field evaluation of PurpleAir sensors in urban and rural India M. Campmier et al. 10.5194/amt-16-4357-2023
- Improving PM10 sensor accuracy in urban areas through calibration in Timișoara R. Blaga & S. Gautam 10.1038/s41612-024-00812-0
- Five Years of Accurate PM2.5 Measurements Demonstrate the Value of Low-Cost PurpleAir Monitors in Areas Affected by Woodsmoke D. Robinson et al. 10.3390/ijerph20237127
- Technical note: Identifying a performance change in the Plantower PMS 5003 particulate matter sensor N. Searle et al. 10.1016/j.jaerosci.2023.106256
- Application and validation of a wearable monitor for assessing time- and location-resolved exposures to particulate matter in California’s Central Valley X. Li et al. 10.1080/02786826.2024.2415481
- Fundamentals of low-cost aerosol sensor design and operation J. Ouimette et al. 10.1080/02786826.2023.2285935
- Exploration of intra-city and inter-city PM2.5 regional calibration models to improve low-cost sensor performance S. Jain & N. Zimmerman 10.1016/j.jaerosci.2024.106335
- Particle number size distribution evaluation of Plantower PMS5003 low-cost PM sensors – a field experiment A. Caseiro et al. 10.1039/D4EA00086B
- Indication Variability of the Particulate Matter Sensors Dependent on Their Location A. Wiora et al. 10.3390/s24051683
- Highly Time-Resolved Apportionment of Carbonaceous Aerosols from Wildfire Using the TC–BC Method: Camp Fire 2018 Case Study M. Ivančič et al. 10.3390/toxics11060497
- Is the smoke aloft? Caveats regarding the use of the Hazard Mapping System (HMS) smoke product as a proxy for surface smoke presence across the United States T. Liu et al. 10.1071/WF23148
- Practical considerations for using low-cost sensors to assess wildfire smoke exposure in school and childcare settings O. Stampfer et al. 10.1038/s41370-024-00677-8
- Dataset on indoor and outdoor PM2.5 concentrations at two residences using low-cost sensors in the Rio Grande Valley Region of South Texas K. Shah et al. 10.1016/j.dib.2025.111492
- Spatial Variation of PM2.5 Indoors and Outdoors: Results from 261 Regulatory Monitors Compared to 14,000 Low-Cost Monitors in Three Western States over 4.7 Years L. Wallace & T. Zhao 10.3390/s23094387
- High-resolution urban air quality monitoring from citizen science data with echo-state transformer networks M. Bonas & S. Castruccio 10.1093/jrsssc/qlaf007
- Urban Air Quality Management at Low Cost Using Micro Air Sensors: A Case Study from Accra, Ghana C. Hodoli et al. 10.1021/acsestair.4c00172
- Indoor and ambient influences on PM2.5 exposure and well-being for a rail impacted community and implications for personal protections I. Torres et al. 10.1088/1748-9326/ad90f5
- Field evaluation of low-cost particulate matter (PM) sensor instruments in indoor and outdoor environments: A university lecture hall and urban southeastern United States S. Westgate et al. 10.1080/02786826.2025.2484244
Latest update: 23 Apr 2025
Short summary
PurpleAir sensors (PASs) are low-cost tools to measure fine particulate matter (PM) concentrations. However, the raw PAS data have significant biases, so the sensors must be corrected. We analyzed data from numerous sites and found that the standard correction to the PAS Purple Air data is accurate in urban pollution events and smoke events but leads to a 6-fold underestimate in the PM2.5 concentrations in dust events. We propose a new correction algorithm to address this problem.
PurpleAir sensors (PASs) are low-cost tools to measure fine particulate matter (PM)...
