The use of low-cost sensors for air quality analysis in road intersections

The paper discusses the results of air quality tests recorded by a low-cost system. It included PM concentration sensors and a system to estimate traffic conditions. The research was carried out from 8 October 2017 to 3 November 2017 at three intersections in city-centre Bielsko-Biala. Hourly atmospheric air quality variability and its relation to the recorded road traffic volume were analysed. The hourly PM1/PM10 and PM2.5/PM10 ratio averages showed a moderate correlation with the traffic volume estimator. The quantitative contribution of traffic to total PM2.5 pollution was estimated using the Kolmogorov-Zurbenko filter applied on 1-min average PM2.5 concentrations. On most of the days the estimated hourly average share of traffic-related emissions in PM2.5 pollution was identified as clearly correlated with the traffic volume. The calculated daily average contribution ranged from 6 to 27% on various days, and at a low urban background concentration it reached approximately 22%.