Air Quality Sensors

Using Personal Air Sensors to Understand Air Quality

Air sensors are lower-cost, portable devices that measure concentrations of some air pollutants. There are many sensors on the market that are available to anyone. Prices start around $200.

In the Spokane area, the use of personal air quality sensors is growing. Private individuals, teachers, schools, libraries, sports associations, and other organizations are using sensors as a tool to better understand air quality conditions at their location(s). Although sensors may provide less accurate data than data we collect from our regulatory monitors, we support and encourage the use of air quality sensors. If you’d like to learn more about sensors, visit the EPA Air Sensor Toolbox webpage.

Sensors at Schools

Personal air sensors are great tools for educators to engage with their students around the topic of air quality. With the assistance of a state grant, Spokane Clean Air has been implementing the Kids Making Sense® (KMS) program at area middle and high schools since 2022. Our final program training was held in December 2025.

There are x schools from x school districts in Spokane County participating in the KMS program. As a participant, schools sent two teachers to a six-hour training. After the training, each school received a classroom kit with lessons, supplies, and sets of hand-held sensors. In addition, each school received two PurpleAir® stationary sensors for indoor and outdoor installation. A map displaying realtime air quality data from PurpleAir sensors located in Spokane County and throughout the country can be viewed here.

Our plan is to highlight stories and photos of KMS in action at these schools on this webpage. Stay tuned for more!

Sensors at Libraries

With grant funding from the Washington State Department of Ecology, and in partnership with Spokane County Library District and Spokane Public Library, every library branch was provided with stationary PurpleAir® sensors. Data from these sensors, and from those located across the globe, are available for viewing here.

Hand-held Air Sensor kits are available for community members to check-out from the ‘Library of Things’ offered by Spokane Public Library. The hand-held, AQ-go air quality sensors are free to use with your library card. They provide a fun way to explore the air where you live and observe how air quality might vary from place to place and during different seasons. For more information, contact Central Library (509) 444-5300, or view the sensors online here.