Articles | Volume 18, issue 16
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-4061-2025
© Author(s) 2025. 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-18-4061-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| Highlight paper
| 
28 Aug 2025
Research article | Highlight paper |
| 28 Aug 2025
| 28 Aug 2025
Calibration and performance evaluation of PM2.5 and NO2 air quality sensors for environmental epidemiology
Miriam Chacón-Mateos
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
University of Stuttgart, Institute of Combustion and Power Plant Technology, Department of Flue Gas Cleaning and Air Quality Control, Stuttgart, 70569, Germany
now at: German Aerospace Center, Institute of Combustion Technology, Stuttgart, 70569, Germany
Héctor García-Salamero
University of Stuttgart, Institute of Combustion and Power Plant Technology, Department of Flue Gas Cleaning and Air Quality Control, Stuttgart, 70569, Germany
Bernd Laquai
University of Stuttgart, Institute of Combustion and Power Plant Technology, Department of Flue Gas Cleaning and Air Quality Control, Stuttgart, 70569, Germany
Ulrich Vogt
University of Stuttgart, Institute of Combustion and Power Plant Technology, Department of Flue Gas Cleaning and Air Quality Control, Stuttgart, 70569, Germany
Related authors
Miriam Chacón-Mateos, Bernd Laquai, Ulrich Vogt, and Cosima Stubenrauch
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 7395–7410, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-7395-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-7395-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The study evaluates a low-cost dryer to avoid the negative effect of hygroscopic growth and fog droplets in the particulate matter (PM) concentrations of sensors. The results show a reduction in the overestimation of the PM but also an underestimation compared to reference devices. Special care is needed when designing a dryer as high temperatures change the sampled air by evaporating the most volatile particulate species. Low-cost dryers are very promising for different sensor applications.
Miriam Chacón-Mateos, Bernd Laquai, Ulrich Vogt, and Cosima Stubenrauch
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 7395–7410, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-7395-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-7395-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The study evaluates a low-cost dryer to avoid the negative effect of hygroscopic growth and fog droplets in the particulate matter (PM) concentrations of sensors. The results show a reduction in the overestimation of the PM but also an underestimation compared to reference devices. Special care is needed when designing a dryer as high temperatures change the sampled air by evaporating the most volatile particulate species. Low-cost dryers are very promising for different sensor applications.
Ajit Ahlawat, Kay Weinhold, Jesus Marval, Paolo Tronville, Ari Leskinen, Mika Komppula, Holger Gerwig, Lars Gerling, Stephan Weber, Rikke Bramming Jørgensen, Thomas Nørregaard Jensen, Marouane Merizak, Ulrich Vogt, Carla Ribalta, Mar Viana, Andre Schmitz, Maria Chiesa, Giacomo Gerosa, Lothar Keck, Markus Pesch, Gerhard Steiner, Thomas Krinke, Torsten Tritscher, Wolfram Birmili, and Alfred Wiedensohler
Atmos. Meas. Tech. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2022-155, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2022-155, 2022
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Short summary
Measurements of ultrafine particles must be done with quality-assured instruments. The performance of portable instruments such as NanoScan SMPS, and GRIMM Mini WRAS spectrometer measuring the particle number size distribution in the range from 10 to 200 nm were investigated. The influence of different aerosol types and maintenance activities on these instruments were explored. The results show that these portable instruments are suitable for mobile UFP measurements for source identification.
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Executive editor
Low-cost sensors have been increasing used to measure air pollutants in environmental epidemiology. This work investigated the calibration and performance evaluation of PM2.5 and NO2 sensors, and introduced novel methodologies for field sensor validation during deployment. The manuscript is thorough and systematic in data treatment, and could be used a best practice guide for the application of sensors to air pollution and epidemiological studies.
Low-cost sensors have been increasing used to measure air pollutants in environmental...
Short summary
This study evaluates PM2.5 and NO2 sensors for their use in health studies. Sensors were calibrated using data from reference instruments, and regression and machine learning models were evaluated, identifying opportunities and limitations in model transferability in both indoor and outdoor environments and showcasing the importance of integrating metadata such as activity logs and diffusive tubes to improve data validation and interpretation during deployment in the houses of the participants.
This study evaluates PM2.5 and NO2 sensors for their use in health studies. Sensors were...
