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Recap: No One-Size-Fits-All – Unpacking the Strengths and Limitations of Low-Cost IAQ Sensors

Banner of the InChildHealth and EDIAQI Webinar 2

On Friday, 9th May 2025, the EDIAQI project hosted the latest session in its ongoing webinar series, titled “No One-Size-Fits-All: Unpacking the Strengths and Limitations of Low-Cost IAQ Sensors.” The event brought together leading researchers, innovators, and practitioners to take a closer look at the evolving role of low-cost sensors (LCS) in indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring—particularly in schools, childcare settings, and homes.

Speakers tackled the promise and pitfalls of these increasingly accessible technologies, assessing their utility across various environments and unpacking the ongoing tension between affordability and precision. As Europe prepares for more robust IAQ frameworks, this conversation proved both timely and necessary.

Balancing Act: What Can Low-Cost Sensors Really Do?

Sotirios Papathanasiou opened the session by making a crucial distinction between low-cost sensors and low-cost monitors, highlighting that while the terms are often used interchangeably, they describe fundamentally different components. His presentation offered a clear and accessible framework for understanding the practical and technical trade-offs, using a humorous fruit metaphor to explain differences in detecting VOCs. His breakdown of pros and cons was a standout moment, providing attendees with an insightful tool for evaluating real-world use cases.

Sotirios also raised a critical point about how humidity can sometimes act as a vehicle for indoor pollutants—an observation that sparked a lively exchange later in the panel discussion.

Sotirios slide of difference and panellist about the issue of measuring TVOC

From Lab to Living Room: Advancing the Science of IAQ Monitoring

John Saffell, CTO of NosmoTech, brought a wealth of experience to the conversation, tracing the evolution of sensor technologies over the past decades. He explored key challenges around data validation, certification, and public trust—stressing that without credible, validated data, sensor technologies risk losing their policy relevance.

John also shared insights into how artificial intelligence and machine learning are being leveraged to enhance the accuracy of sensor systems, turning noisy or inconsistent data into actionable insights. His message was clear: improving indoor environments is not just a technical challenge, but a social and regulatory one as well.

Protecting the Most Vulnerable: Children, Classrooms, and Citizen Science

Lila Diapouli offered a powerful intervention focused on how indoor pollutants impact children. Representing the InChildHealth project, Lila underscored the urgency of addressing exposure risks in schools and childcare environments. She emphasised that low-cost sensors can be transformative—not only for data collection but also for education and empowerment.

By involving children and parents in monitoring efforts through citizen science approaches, these technologies can raise awareness and shift behaviours. Lila’s presentation reminded attendees that affordability is not a constraint, but a key enabler of change—especially in under-resourced environments.

Lila slide on the particular vulnerability of children to indoor pollution as well as panellists

A New Frontier in Usability: EDIAQI’s Particle Monitoring Innovation

Jan-David Förster, delivered a dynamic overview of a novel device being developed under the project’s umbrella. Designed to offer a user-friendly approach to measuring particle size distributions in real-time, the device tackles one of the field’s persistent challenges: environmental interference.

Jan-David discussed how EDIAQI’s innovation accounts for factors such as humidity, cooking activities, and temperature variation—ensuring data remains reliable in real-world conditions. His presentation demonstrated how practical, policy-relevant tools can emerge from research when end-user needs are prioritised.

Jan's slide on the way low costs sensors work and how they are working on refining the models to account for real world conditions

Panel Discussion: From Data to Deployment

Moderated discussion among the panellists delved into the broader implications of deploying low-cost sensors across Europe. Key takeaways included:

  • Terminology Matters: Understanding what is meant by “sensor” vs “monitor” is foundational to effective use and regulation.
  • Precision vs Access: Low-cost tools must be evaluated not just on technical specs but also on their social value and potential reach.
  • Validation is Vital: Certification and calibration mechanisms must evolve in step with emerging technologies to build trust.
  • Child-Centred Design: Monitoring tools should prioritise schools and homes, where health impacts are most severe and long-term.

Watch the Webinar and Join the Movement

The full recording of the webinar will soon be available on the EDIAQI YouTube channel. This session reaffirmed the project’s commitment to bridging scientific innovation with real-world impact—especially for Europe’s youngest and most vulnerable citizens.