Preliminary Indoor PM2.5 Data from the Whole Communities—Whole Health Pilot Study
ANSEL EARLY, David Jarma, Atila Novoselac, Kerry Kinney,
The University of Texas at Austin Abstract Number: 499
Working Group: Aerosols Spanning Spatial Scales: Measurement Networks to Models and Satellites
AbstractReal-time PM2.5 data were collected from 20 households over the course of 2022 using low-cost sensors as part of the pilot study for The University of Texas at Austin Whole Communities—Whole Health Project. The PM2.5 sensors were previously calibrated using reference grade equipment. Data were taken with a 1 minute sample rate over multiple day intervals in each household. Temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide concentrations were simultaneously collected, providing simultaneous proxies for ventilation rates and HVAC operation. Additionally, compositional data were obtained from concurrent floor dust samples. Data from this pilot study provide an estimate of the average PM2.5 exposure to members of the household, as well as insight into the time varying behavior of indoor PM2.5 concentrations under real-world conditions, including the relative PM2.5 concentrations between indoor and outdoor environments and possible impacts of home HVAC systems on indoor PM2.5 concentrations. Additionally, these data provide a real-world test for the efficacy of using low-cost optical particle counters to determine indoor particle exposures.