Scientists reveal new air monitoring equipment

Scientists have revealed a new type of air monitoring equipment that can fit into the size of a suitcase.

Pat Arnott and Ian Arnold of the University of Nevada have developed the technology, which they state is more portable and economical at measuring air quality.

Mr Arnott said: "This machine will be much more ubiquitous for measuring air quality, or more precisely, black carbon in the air."

After looking at the pollution of cities in the US, Canada and South America for the last 12 years, they invented the new technology, which uses lasers, mirrors, tubes and wires to monitor the level of photaccoustic particles in the atmosphere.

Mr Arnott stated the compact size and low cost of the equipment will make it easier for researchers, businesses and governments to utilise the tools, with the professor of physics adding that it will be "much easier when travelling around the world to gather data".

Droplet Measurement Technologies has now licensed their invention for commercial use.

Their new technology could be used in major cities in the world such as New York and Hong Kong as the Independent reported that they had 'moderate' standards of air quality earlier this month, according to data compiled by AirNow, CITEAIR and the American Embassy in Beijing.

Posted by Lauren Steadman