Indoor air quality refers to the air that occupies confined, non-industrial environments—whether private (housing, offices, car interiors) or public (public transport, public places, schools, etc.).

These indoor spaces are often found to be contaminated by many pollutants, and studies even show that indoor air pollution is up to 8 times greater than that of outdoor air. Why is indoor air quality important? We spend, on average, 80 to 90% of our time inside! So, although ignored for a long time, the question of indoor air quality has become one of the main environmental public health issues all over the world.

Temperature and humidity:
These levels can affect more than your comfort. High temperatures and excessive humidity promote mold and mildew growth. These in turn can cause structural damage to your home and cause allergy-like symptoms to those with sensitivities. Monitoring these levels can help you prevent home and health problems and tip you off to potential sources like foundation cracks or leaks and poor insulation.

Carbon dioxide:
While the effects of high levels of CO2 were long thought to be benign, research has found that concentrations as low as 1,000 ppm can affect people’s cognitive function and decision-making performance.

The greatest source of indoor CO2 is people themselves, as it’s a byproduct of our respiratory function. Coupled with poor ventilation, this commonly leads to high levels of CO2 in many homes.

VOCs:
The acronym stands for volatile organic compounds, gases emitted from a variety of materials that can have short- and long-term health effects. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, concentrations of many VOCs can be up to 10 times higher indoors than outdoors.

Sources of VOCs include many common household products, including hairspray, cosmetics, cleaning fluids, disinfectants, paints, and varnishes. Burning fuels like wood and natural gas also produces VOCs.

Formaldehyde is one of the most common VOCs and can be found in many building materials, including plywood, glues, and insulation. Formaldehyde is also used in some drapes and furniture fabrics. You can read more about formaldehyde and its sources in an article from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Short-term exposure to the low levels of VOCs can cause throat irritation, nausea, fatigue, and other minor complaints. Long-term exposure to high concentrations of VOCs has been linked to more severe respiratory irritation as well as liver and kidney damage. Products can emit VOCs even when they’re in storage, though to a lesser extent than when they’re actively being used.

PM level:
Particulate matter, or PM, is a mix of particles and droplets in the air. PM varies in shape and size, but those of 10 micrometers in diameter and smaller can adversely affect your health because they can be inhaled. PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter—that with a diameter of two-and-one-half microns. PM1 is particulate matter measuring 1 micron.

Sufficient exposure to PM2.5 can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs, leading to allergy-like symptoms and shortness of breath in otherwise healthy people. It can also exacerbate existing medical problems, such as asthma and heart disease. The World Health Organization considers PM2.5 the world’s single biggest environmental health risk.

Indoor PM2.5 levels can be influenced by outdoor sources like vehicle exhaust, wildfires, and power plant emissions. But many indoor activities produce PM2.5 as well: Cooking, burning fireplaces, and smoking are just a few common sources.

Carbon monoxide: By now, most people are aware of the deadly effects of high concentrations of this odorless, colorless gas. But exposure to lower levels, sometimes given off by fuel-burning appliances, can also cause adverse reactions, including confusion and memory loss.

Lets not forget that a lot of people generally tend to disregard the dangers they don't   see.

Sigma Hellas is offering a big range of instruments for indoor air quality monitoring , so choose the ones that matter most to you.

IAQ-20
Ambient humidity & temperature meter with alarms logged

Description

This series is used to monitor ambient humidity & temperature. Large LCD displays readings, status, alarm information and real-time clock. User can configure with touch buttons alarm limits, backlight settings, sound alarm settings, etc.

Features and Functions
Range:          -30~65℃
0~100%RH
Resolution: 0.1℃
0.1%rh
Accuracy: ±0.3℃(-10~65℃) ±0.5℃(others)
±3%RH(10~90%RH) ±4%(others)
View history of maximum/minimum/average
High/low alarm user configurable
Real-time and history alarm status indications
Calendar supported and user configurable
Sound alarm supported
Large LCD display with backlight
Comfort level indications
℃/℉/Dew point
Battery status indication
Long battery life

Applications
This product is suitable for laboratory, scientific research, workplace, agriculture, horticulture, animal breeding, home / car / classroom monitoring.

Sigma IAQ500
Monitoring Indoor Carbon dioxide, pollution, formaldehyde, temperature and humidity

Sigma IAQ500 is a real-time monitoring instrument for PM2.5, formaldehyde, temperature, humidity, CO2. Through the professional detection of this series of products, users can guide the prevention and improvement of air quality and safety. This device is suitable for monitoring at home, car, classrooms, workplaces, environmental research and other comprehensive internal air pollution applications.

Features
● High-precision industrial sensors
● 32Bits ARM CPU to improve performance
● Sound alarm function
● Long term continuous environment monitoring
● built in rechargeable lithium battery
● High sensitivity and fast response
● LCD displays temperature, humidity, time and date
● Large STN LCD with backlight

Technical Characteristics
Channels: Temperature, Humidity, HCHO, PM2.5, CO2
Sensor type: Temperature: digital, Humidity: digital, HCHO: electrochemical , PM2.5: Laser, CO2: IR
Range: Temperature: --40~80℃, Humidity: 0~100%rh, HCHO: 0~2mg/m³, PM2.5: 0~999ug/m³, CO2: 0~9999ppm
Accuracy:Temperature ±0.5℃, Humidity ±3%rh, HCHO 0.03mg/m (<0.3mgm=''>=0.3mg/m), PM2.5 ±10%, CO2 ±5%±50ppm
Resolution:Temperature 0.1℃, Humidity 0.1%rh, HCHO 0.001mg/m³, PM2.5 1ug/m³, CO2 1ppm
Operational environment: 5~50℃, 10~90%RH, Standard air pressure
Size(mm): 126mm*84mm*36mm

Applications
This series of IAQ monitoring products can detect environmental parameters closely related to the health of people, including formaldehyde, TVOC, temperature, humidity, air quality index, carbon dioxide.

Sigma IAQ40

CO2+Temperature+Humidity with Data Logger (Sigma IQA40D)Environment Meter

A real-time monitoring instrument for temperature, humidity, and CO2. Through the professional detection of this series of products, they can guide the prevention and improvement of air quality and safety. This product is suitable for monitoring of home, car, classrooms, workplaces, environmental research and other comprehensive air pollution.

Features
● High-precision industrial sensors are used
● 32Bits ARM CPU to improve performance
● Sound alarm function
● Long term continuous environment detection
● built in rechargeable lithium battery
● High sensitivity and fast response speed
● LCD shows temperature, humidity, time and date
● Large STN backlit LCD

Technical Characteristics
Channels: Temperature, Humidity, CO2
Sensor type: Temperature: digital, Humidity: digital, CO2: IR
Range: Temperature: --40~80℃, Humidity: 0~100%rh, CO2: 0~9999ppm
Accuracy:Temperature ±0.5℃, Humidity ±3%rh, CO2 ±5%±50ppm
Resolution:Temperature 0.1℃, Humidity 0.1%rh, CO2 1ppm
Operational environment: 5~50℃, 10~90%RH, Standard air pressure
Size(mm): 126mm*84mm*36mm

Applications
This series of Sigma IAQ monitoring products can detect environmental parameters closely related to the health of people, including temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide.

Sigma IAQ310

PM2.5, PM1.0, PM10, Temperature, Humidity Meter

Features
● Using high-precision industrial sensors
● 32Bits ARM CPU to improve performance
● Sound alarm function
● Long term continuous environment detection
● built in rechargeable lithium battery
● High sensitivity and fast response speed
● LCD shows temperature, humidity, time and date
● Large STN LCD with backlight

Specifications
Range/Accuracy: Temperature -40..80℃ / ±0.5℃
Humidity 0~100%rh / ±3%rh
PM2.5 0~999ug/m³ / ±10%
PM1.0 0~999ug/m³ / ±10%
PM10 0~999ug/m³ / ±10%
Size(mm): 126mm*84mm*36mm

Applications
This series of Sigma IAQ monitoring products can detect environmental parameters closely related to the health of people, including temperature, humidity, PM2.5, PM1.0, PM10.