Air pollution monitors are designed to give us a reality check so that we can take effective measures to identify the culprit and counter the healthcare challenges. Here’s looking at the top air pollution monitors.

By Jisha Krishnan

When the eyes are frequently itchy and nose stuffy, perhaps, it is time to get an insight into the air you are breathing. Instead of simply treating the symptoms of allergies or asthma, an increasing number of households today are investing in air pollution monitors to help optimise their indoor environment.

Studies show that air pollution increases the risk of cardiac diseases, lung cancer and strokes. Dust, high humidity, emissions from the kitchen and household cleaners, etc escalate the levels of pollutants to such an extent that indoor air quality is often as high as – if not worse than – that outdoors. While adding indoor plants and ensuring better cross-ventilation are good ways to keep the air healthy, they may not be effective enough to deal with the toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM) in the air.

Sadly, in most cases, people are blissfully unaware of the hazardous indoor air. Air pollution monitors are designed to give us a reality check so that we can take effective measures to identify the culprit and counter the healthcare challenges. Here’s looking at the top air pollution monitors that do the job remarkably well:

Awair Glow C

Here’s a technology that not only tells you what the problem is – in no uncertain terms – but also helps with handy solutions. This smart home device tracks temperature, humidity and VOCs to give you an overall air-quality score in real-time. The best part though is that it can automatically activate any appliance – say the air conditioner or humidifier – that’s plugged into it when the pollutant levels rise.

The device connects with Google Home and Amazon Echo. Also, the accompanying mobile app is easy to navigate, offering valuable data and useful tips for improving indoor air quality. Awair 2nd Edition is another good buy, especially if are looking for a compact and chic air quality monitor.

Airthings Wave Plus

Long-term exposure to radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas and little-known indoor pollutant, can lead to lung cancer. The Airthings Wave Plus actively tracks levels of radon, along with carbon dioxide (CO2), VOCs, humidity, air pressure and temperature in real-time.

Easy to install on a wall or ceiling, the colour-coded LEDs on the device display indoor air quality at a glance. The dedicated mobile app offers one more way to keep tabs on the levels of colourless and odourless gases that can wreak havoc with one’s health. The air quality monitor can also be paired with smart home devices, such as the Philips Hue smart bulbs.

Foobot Indoor Air Quality Monitor

Considered one of the best air quality monitors for measuring PM 2.5 levels, the smart device offers visual clues about how healthy the air is. Blue is good news; orange is not. For smart homes, this is a great addition as it connects with most popular devices – Alexa, Amazon Echo and the like – offering a seamless experience.

There’s a dedicated app that shows room temperature, humidity levels and data related to the level of VOCs and PM in the air. And then, there are timely notifications and recommendations in case of dips in air quality. You can also check the global pollution index and track overall air quality trends.

EG Air Quality Monitor

If you are looking for a professional-grade air quality monitor that is portable, look no further. Armed with advanced sensor technology, EG air quality monitor offers accurate readings of PM 2.5, PM 10, temperature and humidity levels in no time. Formaldehyde detection is another noteworthy feature, given that the pollutant is known to increase the risk of myeloid leukemia and other cancers.

You can connect the device to your phone to track air quality history. However, unlike most tech-savvy products, this monitor can’t be connected to smart home devices. The good news is that it is compact enough to be can be carried along just about anywhere.

AirVisual Pro

In terms of air quality monitor apps, AirVisual Pro possibly has the best one. Right from pollutant tracking for live monitoring and seven-day pollution forecasts to tracking data related to specific illness (say asthma) and the ability to link air monitors together, the dedicated app does all this and more!

Thanks to professional-grade sensors, the monitor can accurately measure PM 2.5, CO2, temperature and humidity in real-time. However, it does not measure VOCs. The device, though, is compact enough to be taken on the go. Health recommendations and air quality forecasts are some other handy features.