Monitoring air quality through low-cost sensor use in South Africa

In thinking about air pollution, one is almost immediately transported to a place of thick smoke and fog – called smog. Such images pervaded the media in Asia, where people were often seen walking around with masks.

Although striking, it was only for a moment. Because when something is far away, it fades from memory. Years later, governments are finally entering into discussions about air pollution, pollutants and seeking to regulate emissions. Recently, the G20 has adopted two pivotal declarations on air quality in South Africa. Further insights can be found here.

Given the effects of climate change being caused through extreme weather events and air pollution, research is geared to investigate these issues.  The Climate Change and Health Research Programme (CC&HRP) at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) have turned their attention to investigating household air pollution (HAP) and ambient or outdoor air pollution and the potential health effects. Between the period of 2020-2025, fourteen research papers on air pollution and low-cost sensors have been published by the CC&HRP.

Pollutants of concern globally and within lower-middle-income-countries (LIMCs) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) including South Africa is particulate matter (PM^2.5), sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). Despite this, the monitoring of air quality remains challenging, largely due to infrastructural and funding constraints. Alternative strategies include the use of low-cost censors.

In 2021, Chief Specialist Scientist Caradee Wright, lead of the CC&HRP at the SAMRC together with several other scholars, published a manuscript where the potential benefits of low-cost censors were explored. Read more here.