Optical particulate matter sensors in PM_2.5 measurements in atmospheric air

¹ Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Department of Air Conditioning, Heating, Gas Engineering and Air Protection, 4/6 Norwida St., 50-373 Wrocław, Poland
² INSYSPOM, 9 Duńska St., 54-427 Wrocław, Poland
³ University of Wrocław, Institute of Geography and Regional Development, Department of Climatology and Atmosphere Protection, 8 Kosiby St., 51-621 Wrocław, Poland

^* Corresponding author: marek.badura@pwr.edu.pl

Abstract

Monitoring systems are needed to obtain information about particulate matter (PM) concentrations and to make such information accessible to the public. Small, low-cost, optical sensors could be used to improve the spatial and temporal resolution of PM data. The paper presents results of collocated comparison of four low-cost PM sensors and TEOM analyser, conducted from 20-08-2017 to 24-12-2017 in Wrocław, Poland. Plantower PMS7003 and Nova Fitness SDS011 sensors proved to be the best in terms of precision and were linearly correlated with TEOM data. Alphasense OPC-N2 sensors exhibited only moderate precision and linearity. Winsen ZH03A sensors had low repeatability between units and only one copy demonstrated good operation possibilities. All tested sensors had a bias in relation to PM_2.5 concentrations obtained from TEOM.