APPLICATION OF LOW-COST OPTICAL PM SENSOR FOR MONITORING OF PARTICULATE MATTER AIR POLLUTION IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT: A CASE STUDY IN ESPLANĀDE HOUSING ESTATE, DAUGAVPILS CITY

The harmful health effects of airborne particulate matter (PM) pollutants are well-known. However, the spatial coverage of automated air quality observation stations of Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LEGMC) is sparse. Therefore the capability for PM concentration detection was examined by using the low-cost optical PM sensor to improve the spatial resolution of environmental data. The aim of the study was to perform 24h/7d measurements of PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations during a period of one year and to identify air quality in Esplanāde housing estate, Daugavpils city. For data obtaining on the concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 particles measurements have been performed by optical sensor Nova SDS011; meteorological data were obtained using the database of LEGMC; for processing, analysis and visualization of obtained data statistical methods were applied. Evaluation of PM2.5 and PM10 daily average concentration variability in 2020 indicates that air quality in the urban environment could be assessed as good. A well-expressed statistical correlation between meteorological factors (t°C, relative humidity) and the average concentration of PM particles was not found. It highlights the necessity of further research