The Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center is excited to offer air quality monitors available for checkout to the public. Are you concerned about your outdoor or indoor air quality for any reason? Through our program, you can actively monitor your air and better understand its quality in your home, workplace, and surrounding environments.
Program Overview
Borrowing an air quality monitor allows you to measure local air pollution levels, identify potential air quality concerns, and take steps to improve your indoor or outdoor air environment.
The main purpose of implementing this air quality monitor lending library is to provide the opportunity for local community members and groups within the state of Arizona to learn and investigate ambient and indoor fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and other air pollutants (see equipment available) in their communities. This library program can empower users to make changes to reduce their exposure to pollutants. The data will be gathered by borrowers and will belong solely to borrowers.
Equipment Available for Loan
- PurpleAir Monitor (PA-II_SD): stationary monitor that measures fine particulate matter (PM2.5); for outdoor and indoor use; plug-in electricity power; downloadable data collected locally on a microSD card or connected to Wi-Fi for public data streaming on the PurpleAir Map website.
- Good For: tracking air quality over time in neighborhoods, schools, or homes—especially for smoke, dust, or traffic-related pollution. PurpleAir is easy to set up, provides real-time PM2.5 data, and uploads to an online map, making it perfect for public awareness projects, community science, or checking indoor air improvements after using air purifiers.
- Temptop M2000 2nd Generation: This is a hand-held direct reading air quality monitor that measures CO2, PM2.5 and PM10, and formaldehyde.
- Good For: quick indoor air quality checks in homes, classrooms, or offices. Temtop monitors measure PM2.5, CO₂, and formaldehyde and are great for identifying pollution from cleaning, cooking, or poor ventilation. Their portability and simplicity make them ideal for first-time users, educators, and community outreach.
- Aeroqual Series 200: This is a hand-held direct reading air quality monitor with different attachable head sensors for specific pollutant measurement. We currently have attachable head sensors for PM2.5, PM10 and ozone (O3).
- Good For: spot-checking and short-term monitoring of specific gases—like ozone, CO₂, and particulate matter—in workplaces, classrooms, or around equipment. The handheld design with interchangeable sensor heads allows users to quickly identify pollution "hot spots," leaks, or exposure risks.
This program is open to all, including community members and groups, as well as UA students and staff interested in learning more about air quality, how actions may affect PM2.5 concentrations and other air pollutants, and how to reduce exposure to them.
SWEHSC staff will provide guidance and training to accepted borrowers on quality assurance requirements prior to the deployment of the monitors. A Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the air quality monitor will be shared and include instructions for installing, connecting, and troubleshooting the monitors. Other reference materials and websites are also provided. SWEHSC staff will be available for virtual assistance with any issues that may arise, and in-person assistance if the borrower is within reasonable travel distance.
The cost of shipping equipment to participants will be covered by the borrower. In-person delivery can be made if borrowers are within reasonable travel distance, or the equipment can be picked up from our offices by the borrower. Borrowers will be also responsible for the cost of returning or delivery of air quality monitors to SWEHSC for the arranged time approved (though a longer period can be negotiated upfront, or the loan can be extended if there is monitor availability).
Contact Us
If you're interested in using the air monitor lending program, please fill out this form. Any questions? Please contact us at SWEHSC-CEC@arizona.edu.