Guidelines for IAQ monitoring with low-cost air sensors in homes with asthmatic patients

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a crucial determinant of health, which is of particular concern for low-income black children, who are disproportionately exposed to asthma triggers in their indoor housing environment and have higher rates of asthma and poorer outcomes from the disease, indicating an environmental justice issue. However, guidelines for IAQ data collection vary between organizations, making assessments and comparisons difficult. This study consolidates recommended practices into one cohesive set of guidelines for monitoring IAQ. It outlines a structured approach for defining IAQ sampling objectives, identifying the most appropriate low-cost air sensors, determining optimal sensor placement in homes, developing data collection and analysis, and presenting and interpreting results. With indoor PM2.5 as a case study, the guidelines were used to determine sampling duration, analysis, and quality assurance in five households with pediatric asthma patients. The metrics illustrate PM2.5 concentration by the 90th percentile (with average concentration level from 4 – 109 μg/m3), daily average minutes of PM2.5 concentration exceeding recommended exposure limits of 0 – 134 mins, daily average PM2.5 concentration of 1.8 – 82 μg/m3, and significant temporal variation across households. This study highlights the significance of employing low-cost air sensors to provide real-time notifications of IAQ, along with simplified monitoring guidelines for researchers, healthcare providers, and parents working to improve IAQ for households with asthmatic children, potentially reducing the frequency and severity of asthma attacks. The low-cost sensors and resulting metrics can direct interventions effectively and provide a basis for determining the efficacy of environment-based air quality interventions.