Buy a portable Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) AirBeam monitor for under $200

We reported on the AirBeam wearable pollution monitor last June in Citizen Science – More on grassroots monitoring of air pollution and on the companion open source AirCasting application just a few days ago in DIY Particulate Matter monitoring with the AirCasting application.

Great news! The nonprofit building the Airbeam has launched  a Kickstarter project to fund mass production and lower costs, and is selling them to supporters for under $200.  I just ordered one.

Based on the chart below, these appear to be relatively accurate monitors.

Source: NextCity

While personal devices won’t replace more rigorous laboratory monitoring like Global Community Monitor has done for the Diesel Health Project in the KC area, they are a great platform for empowering a community, conducting citizen science, sharing air quality data, STEM education, and more!

Check out their video below, and their Kickstarter page.