Airthings View Plus: Comprehensive Radon & Air Quality Monitoring for a Healthier Home

It’s a sobering thought: the air inside our homes, where we spend the vast majority of our time, can be significantly more polluted than the air outdoors. And one of the most insidious threats is entirely invisible and odorless: radon. This radioactive gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, responsible for approximately 21,000 deaths each year. This isn’t just a statistic; it’s a reality that could be affecting you and your loved ones without you even knowing it.

Consider “Sarah,” a young professional who recently purchased her dream home. After a few weeks, she began experiencing persistent fatigue, headaches, and a dry cough. She initially attributed it to the stress of moving and settling in, but the symptoms lingered. Could something in her new home be making her sick?

What’s in Your Air? Unveiling Indoor Air Pollution

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. It’s a complex mix of gases, particles, and even biological matter. Key components of IAQ include:

• Radon: A naturally occurring radioactive gas that seeps from the ground.
• Particulate Matter (PM2.5): Tiny particles, less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, that can penetrate deep into the lungs. Sources include cooking, smoking, fireplaces, and outdoor pollution that infiltrates the home.
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Gases emitted from a wide range of household products, including paints, cleaning supplies, furniture, and even some air fresheners. Common VOCs include formaldehyde, benzene, and toluene.
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2): While not toxic at typical indoor levels, high CO2 concentrations indicate poor ventilation, leading to stuffiness, drowsiness, and reduced cognitive function.
• Humidity: The amount of moisture in the air. Both high and low humidity can create problems, from mold growth to respiratory irritation.

Exposure to these pollutants, even at relatively low levels, can have significant health consequences. Short-term effects can include eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Long-term exposure can increase the risk of respiratory diseases, heart disease, and even cancer.

Radon: The Silent Intruder

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas formed by the decay of uranium in soil, rock, and water. It’s invisible, odorless, and tasteless, making it impossible to detect without specialized equipment. Radon seeps into homes through cracks in foundations, walls, and gaps around pipes and wires. It can also be present in well water.

Once inside, radon can accumulate to dangerous levels, especially in well-insulated and tightly sealed homes. The real danger lies in the radioactive decay products of radon. When radon decays, it releases tiny radioactive particles called alpha particles. Think of these as microscopic, high-speed bullets. When inhaled, these alpha particles can directly bombard the cells lining the lungs. This bombardment can damage the DNA within these cells, increasing the risk of developing lung cancer over time. The damage is cumulative, meaning the longer the exposure and the higher the radon level, the greater the risk.

Meet the Airthings View Plus: Your IAQ Guardian

The Airthings 2960 View Plus is a sophisticated, yet user-friendly, indoor air quality monitor designed to give you a comprehensive understanding of the air you breathe. It’s more than just a radon detector; it’s a complete IAQ solution, continuously monitoring seven critical parameters:

• Radon (Rn)
• Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM1)
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
• Humidity
• Temperature
• Air Pressure

The View Plus is battery-powered (with an option to power via USB-C), offering flexibility in placement. Its sleek, minimalist design features a customizable e-ink display that shows two key readings of your choice. A simple wave of your hand in front of the device triggers a color-coded indicator (green for good, yellow for fair, red for poor) to provide an instant overview of your air quality. All data is wirelessly transmitted to the free Airthings app (available for iOS and Android) and a web dashboard, providing detailed historical trends, customizable alerts, and insights into your IAQ.

Inside the Technology: How View Plus Works

Let’s delve into the science behind the View Plus’s sensors:

• Radon Detection (Passive Diffusion Chamber with Alpha Spectrometry): Air passively diffuses into a chamber within the device. When radon gas, present in the air, decays inside this chamber, it emits alpha particles. These particles are detected by a silicon photodiode, and their energy is measured. This process, called alpha spectrometry, allows the View Plus to accurately determine the concentration of radon in the air. The device reports radon levels in picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or becquerels per cubic meter (Bq/m³). The EPA recommends taking action if radon levels are 4 pCi/L (148 Bq/m³) or higher. Crucially, the View Plus provides continuous radon monitoring. This is essential because radon levels fluctuate significantly over time, influenced by factors like weather, ventilation, and even the time of day. Short-term tests (like charcoal canisters) only provide a snapshot and may not accurately reflect your long-term exposure.

• Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM1) Detection (Laser-Based Particle Counter): The View Plus uses a laser-based sensor to count the number of particles in the air and estimate their size. Air is drawn into the sensor, and a laser beam illuminates the particles. The amount of light scattered by the particles is measured, which is proportional to their size and concentration. This allows the device to differentiate between PM2.5 (particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers) and PM1 (particles smaller than 1 micrometer).

• Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Detection (Non-Dispersive Infrared - NDIR - Sensor): The CO2 sensor uses a non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) sensor. This type of sensor has an infrared lamp, a sample chamber, and an optical filter. CO2 molecules absorb infrared light at a specific wavelength. The sensor measures the amount of infrared light that passes through the sample chamber, and the difference between the emitted light and the received light is used to calculate the CO2 concentration.

• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Detection (Metal-Oxide Semiconductor - MOS - Sensor): The VOC sensor uses a metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) sensor. This sensor contains a heated metal-oxide film. When VOCs come into contact with the film, they react, changing the electrical resistance of the film. The change in resistance is proportional to the concentration of VOCs. It’s important to note that this sensor provides a total VOC reading; it doesn’t identify individual VOCs.

• Humidity and Temperature Detection: These sensors use standard electronic components to measure relative humidity and temperature.

• Air Pressure Barometric air pressure is also meassured.
  

Taking Control: Practical Steps to Improve IAQ

The Airthings View Plus empowers you to take action based on data. If the device indicates elevated levels of any pollutant, here are some steps you can take:

• High Radon: If your View Plus consistently shows radon levels above the EPA’s action level (4 pCi/L), contact a qualified radon mitigation professional. Radon mitigation systems typically involve installing a vent pipe and fan to draw radon gas from beneath the house and vent it outside.
• High PM2.5: Increase ventilation (open windows, use exhaust fans), use an air purifier with a HEPA filter, and avoid activities that generate particulate matter (smoking, burning candles indoors).
• High CO2: Improve ventilation by opening windows or using a mechanical ventilation system. Consider adjusting your HVAC system to increase the intake of fresh air.
• High VOCs: Identify and remove sources of VOCs (e.g., replace old furniture, use low-VOC paints and cleaning products). Increase ventilation. Consider using an air purifier with an activated carbon filter.
• High Humidity: Use a dehumidifier, especially in basements and bathrooms. Ensure proper ventilation in areas where moisture is generated (kitchen, laundry).
• Low Humidity: Use humidifier.

A Breath of Fresh Air: The Benefits of Monitoring
Investing in an indoor air quality monitor like the Airthings View Plus is more than just acquiring a gadget; it is a form of protection.
It’s an investment in your health and well-being. The benefits are numerous:

• Peace of Mind: Knowing the quality of the air you breathe provides a sense of security and control.
• Early Detection: Identifying problems early allows you to take action before they escalate into serious health issues.
• Data-Driven Decisions: The detailed data and trends provided by the View Plus and the Airthings app empower you to make informed choices about ventilation, air purification, and other home improvements.
• Smart Home Integration: Connecting the View Plus to your smart home ecosystem (via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or IFTTT) allows you to automate actions based on air quality readings (e.g., automatically turning on an air purifier when PM2.5 levels rise).
• Long Battery Life: The optimized design has battery that works up to 2 years, and it can be extended through settings.

The Future of Healthy Homes

Awareness of indoor air quality is growing, and technology is playing a crucial role in empowering individuals to create healthier living spaces. The Airthings View Plus represents a significant step forward in this trend, providing comprehensive, accurate, and user-friendly IAQ monitoring. By taking control of the air you breathe, you’re taking a proactive step towards a healthier and happier life. Learn more about indoor air quality and the Airthings View Plus on their website.