Use of Low-Cost Air Monitoring Sensors in a Valley Community in New England to Better Understand Elevated Woodsmoke Pollution during Localized Air Inversions

In the last decade, various efforts have focused on better understanding the relationship between poor wintertime air quality due to woodsmoke and localized air inversions in Keene, NH. Even after a woodstove changeout program was implemented in 2010, mobile air monitoring by Keene State researchers determined that hot spots of elevated fine particulate matter (with short term exposures over 100 µg/m³) persisted in various neighborhoods during cold, calm winter evenings. More recently, we have deployed low cost Purple Air sensors throughout the city, working with citizen scientists. Real time data from these sensors were corrected, uploaded to a live web platform, and made available to citizens in real time at www.keenecleanair.org. This poster presents data from recent air monitoring campaigns, the unique features of Keene’s valley topography, and the benefits and challenges of using low cost sensors in community exposure assessment. Future research includes developing an empirical model to better predict air inversions in order to alert residents prior to an air inversion to encourage voluntary 'no burn' action during those evenings.