Is there now or planned an outdoor sensor that will monitor the gas hazards from forest fire smoke PARTICULARLY Ozone and NO2 as I see some sensors monitor VOC. Does the VOC monitor give levels and “what” VOC compounds does it measure?
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Hi Bill,
We don’t have any plans at the moment to integrate Ozone or NO2 sensors. Secondly, the VOC readings are a TVOC (Total VOC). Meaning that the sensors produce one value to reflect all of the VOCs they are detecting.
There also isn’t a clear indication of what specific VOCs are being detected. The component producing VOC readings is the Bosch BME688. You can view its datasheet here: https://www.bosch-sensortec.com/products/environmental-sensors/gas-sensors/bme688/#documents
This document includes information on what gasses are used to calibrate the sensor, but does not provide an exhaustive list of detectable VOCs.
For more information on the capabilities of PurpleAir sensors, go here: What Do PurpleAir Sensors Measure and How Do They Work?
Right now, PurpleAir sensors mainly track PM2.5. VOC sensors give a general index but don’t identify specific compounds. For Ozone and NO2, you’d need dedicated gas sensors, though I haven’t seen PurpleAir announce an outdoor model for those yet.
Hi @Bill,
Most current outdoor sensors like PurpleAir primarily track PM2.5 and sometimes VOC levels, but they don’t break down specific VOC compounds. For Ozone (O3) and NO2, you’ll typically need dedicated air quality monitors or government-grade sensors. Some research-grade stations report these gases in real-time, but consumer outdoor sensors generally don’t.