Unusual Air Pollutants from Eaton Fire in Pasadena & Altadena - Local Resident Reveals Staggering Research Data
In the heart of Pasadena, California, an individual embarked on a journey to monitor local air pollution using a personal air quality monitor, the Plume Labs' Flow 2 device. The device, compact and affordable, measures particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using small sensors.
On January 8, 2025, the individual began their monitoring, concerned about nitrogen dioxide due to the presence of diesel trucks in the area. As days passed, the data collected by the Flow 2 device was averaged in time sections and presented in charts, offering a clear picture of the air quality trends.
The average PM1 readings, for the most part, decreased over time. By February 28, 2025, NOX readings, which were initially around 1.7, had averaged down to zero. However, it's important to note that such consumer-grade monitors, while providing useful real-time data trends, often have limitations in absolute accuracy compared to regulatory-grade monitors operated by agencies like the Air Quality Management District (AQMD).
Studies and user comparisons indicate that Flow 2 devices are generally good for personal exposure awareness and spatial variation tracking. They may show some deviations in absolute concentration values due to sensor limitations and environmental factors such as humidity and temperature. Therefore, they should not be solely relied upon for regulatory or health compliance assessments.
The AQMD monitors in Pasadena are part of a network of fixed regulatory stations that use federal reference or equivalent methods with strict calibration protocols to ensure accurate and certified air quality data.
During the monitoring period, the individual found that certain areas, such as the old road with heavy traffic, showed high PM10 readings according to the Flow 2 device. The AQMD readings, however, were not directly compared in this study.
Indoors, the individual took steps to improve air quality, with air purifiers with HEPA filters in each room and multiple filters in the office and living dining area. The kitchen, where there were no air purifiers, had a moderate AQI inside the house.
Outside, during a walk around the block, the AQI ranged from High with High risk to low and moderate. High levels of VOC were found at the market in Altadena, possibly due to cleaning chemicals or VOC leaching out after a fire.
It's worth mentioning that VOCs require a special carbon filter to be removed from the air, and the air purifier in the bedroom has two layers of carbon filters, which can remove nitrogen dioxide from the air.
In a surprising turn of events, Plume Labs was bought by Accuweather in 2023. The device now measures O3 ozone, which the individual's device does not. However, this update was implemented after the monitoring period.
The individual's Plume Labs' Flow device records location, time, date, and air quality indexes (AQI) for particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and VOC. By the time the individual returned home, the AQI was back to moderate.
A total of 81,671 records were collected from January 8 to February 28, 2025. Interestingly, there was an increase in PM10 and PM2.5 readings in the 20-28 day period, but they decreased after the fire was extinguished on February 22. Remarkably, VOCs were higher five weeks after the fire than during the fire itself.
In summary, while Plume Labs’ Flow 2 provides convenient and reasonably accurate local air quality readings for personal use, its measurements are generally less precise than AQMD’s official monitoring stations. For Pasadena, California, direct side-by-side comparison data would be needed for a conclusive accuracy assessment, but it is expected that AQMD readings remain the gold standard for accuracy and regulatory use. Users should consider Flow 2 data as informative but not fully equivalent to AQMD’s certified measurements.
- The individual's interest in science extended beyond air pollution, as they also monitored potential medical-conditions like respiratory-conditions, utilizing the Plume Labs' Flow 2 device to track volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in their indoor environment.
- In light of the increasing concern surrounding climate change, the individual's environmental-science findings could contribute to a broader understanding of how air pollution and climate change might interconnect, particularly in the context of Pasadena's local environment.
- As the debate on climate change and its impact on health-and-wellness continues, the data collected by the Plume Labs' Flow 2 device in Pasadena could aid researchers in identifying critical areas requiring attention and developing effective strategies to mitigate climate change's negative effects on air quality and public health.
