Sensing solutions for better air quality

Indoor air can be 2-5 times, even up to 100 times, more polluted than outdoor air⁷. Measuring air quality is the first step to improving your indoor air quality paving the way for a healthier lifestyle and well-being.

Clean air for a better life

Enhancing your health and well-being

Air pollution is one of the biggest health risks of our time, affecting us both outdoors and indoors. Indoor air can often be surprisingly more polluted than outdoor air—up to 100 times more, according to the American Lung Association¹. Indoor air pollution creates a range of health-damaging pollutants, including fine particles that penetrate deep into the lungs, leading to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The WHO estimates that in 2020 alone, around 3.2 million people worldwide died from household air pollution². Clean air, on the other hand, boosts well-being, increases productivity, and strengthens the immune system.

Since we spend around 90% of our time indoors and the evidence that exposure to indoor fine particulate matter causes adverse health effects, indoor air quality is crucial for our health and well-being³. As a result, regional air quality standards and regulations are increasingly being released and tightened. The European Union, for instance, is implementing stricter air quality guidelines, aiming to significantly reduce limits for fine particles and other pollutants by 2030 and to create unified standards⁴. In 2022 China revised standards for indoor air quality specifying hygienic requirements for physical, chemical, biological and radioactive indicators in indoor air, including PM2.5. limits⁵. In the United States, the comprehensive federal law Clean Air Act (CAA) regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources to set limits on certain air pollutants and how much can be in the air any-where in the United States.⁶

Technological advancements hold great potential for quantifying and reducing PM2.5 exposure. Air quality measurement with smart sensing solutions helps individuals measure PM2.5 levels, gases and track locations. Along with improvements in environmental data analysis and modeling, these advancements open new paths for exposure assessment and control, enabling real-time alerts to guide exposure-reducing behaviors.

In a nutshell: Air quality measurement helps to identify sources of pollution and enables targeted actions for better air quality and is the first step toward an improved quality of life and long-term health protection.

Measuring air quality

with our sensing solutions is first step to enhance air quality

PM air quality sensor BMV080

The BMV080 is the world’s smallest Particulate matter (PM1 and PM2.5) air quality sensor. The sensor utilizes an innovative design based on ultra-compact lasers with integrated photodiodes. It applies sophisticated algorithms to measure the PM concentration directly in free space, without requiring a fan. Thanks to the innovative design with no fan-induced dust buildup, the sensor is maintenance-free and makes it more reliable and less prone to malfunction. Due to the size of 4.4 x 3.0 x 3.0 mm³ (W x L x H), the BMV080 is smaller than any comparable device on the market and is easy to integrate in ultra-compact IoT devices.

Find more information on our PM air quality sensor BMV080

4-in-1 air quality sensor BME690

The BME690 is the world's smallest 4-in-1 air quality sensor, that can measure gas, humidity, temperature, and air pressure simultaneously. Designed for monitoring indoor air quality, this innovative sensor can detect Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSCs), and other gases, making it an essential solution for ensuring a healthy living environment. One of the standout features of the BME690 is its standardizability and the small size of 3.0 x 3.0 x 0.93 mm³, allowing it to be easily integrated into various applications and systems. Its robustness ensures reliable performance even in challenging conditions, while its power-efficient design minimizes energy consumption. With the BME690, you can effectively monitor air quality without compromising on efficiency or reliability.

Find more information on our 4-in-1 air quality sensor BME690

BMV080		BME690
BMV080 Sensor dimensions (typ.)	4.4 x 3.0 x 3.0 mm³ excluding flex PCB based connector	BME690 Package dimensions	3.0 x 3.0 x 0.93 mm³ 8-Pin LGA with metal
BMV080 Precision (typ.)	± 10 µg/m³ @ 0 — 100 µg/m³ ± 10% of measured value @ 101 — 1000 µg/m³	BME690 Operation range (full accuracy)	Pressure: 300...1100 hPa Humidity 0…100% Temperature: -40…85°C
BMV080 Measurement modes	Continuous measurement mode Duty cycling measurement mode	BME690 Interface	I²C (up to 3.4 MHz) and SPI (3 and 4 wire, up to 10 MHz)

Boost your air quality

Discover devices that work seamlessly with our sensors

Take action with our sensor for clean air
everywhere and anytime

Our MEMS sensors enable consumer electronics to sense the world around them. Integrated in air quality devices, our sensors enable breakthrough capabilities – by detecting environmental conditions for a better, more informed user experience, enhancing health and safety through real-time monitoring of air quality, and providing actionable insights to improve your environment.

An elderly person frying some food in a grill frying pan.

Personal air quality monitoring

Personal Air Quality Monitoring – Monitor Your Air Quality Anytime and Anywhere

Personal Air Quality Monitoring allows you to track the air you breath and to gain a deeper understanding of your immediate environment, enabling you to take steps to reduce exposure to harmful pollutants and protect your long-term health. Our sensors in wearables measure key air quality parameters such as fine particulate matter (PM2.5), VOCs, VCS, CO and more. Whether you are at home, at work, or outdoors, our sensors help you monitor the quality of the air around you.

This type of monitoring is particularly useful for individuals who are concerned about environmental factors affecting their health. By tracking air quality, you can make informed decisions about when to take action, such as improving ventilation or using air purifiers.

Learn more about our Sensing Solutions that enable Personal Air Quality Monitoring:

4-in-1 gas sensor BME690

PM2.5 air quality sensor BMV080

A busy street from the bird eye of view.

Air quality mapping

Air quality mapping – Breathe the best air and avoid pollution hotspots!

Air quality mapping is the process of measuring and visualizing the concentration of various pollutants in the air across different locations. This technique helps identify pollution hotspots, track changes in air quality over time, and assess the effectiveness of environmental policies. Our innovative and tiny sensors, BMV080 and BME690, deployed in various locations, can gather detailed information about both particulate matter and gaseous pollutants, enabling accurate air quality mapping. This way you can make informed decisions to improve your health. The collected data can also be used to improve environmental conditions and fostering a healthier environment for communities.

Learn more about our Sensing Solutions that enable Air quality mapping:

4-in-1 gas sensor BME690

PM2.5 air quality sensor BMV080

A person looking into the fridge to check out the freshness of the food items.

Food freshness

Food Freshness – Ensure Quality and Condition of your Food

Food freshness detection helps you track the quality and condition of your food, ensuring that it stays fresh, nutritious, and safe to eat. With our advanced sensors and technology, you can measure critical factors like temperature, humidity, and gas emissions that influence food quality during storage and transport. Maintaining optimal food freshness is essential for preserving taste, texture, and nutritional value, while also reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses and preventing food wastage though the timely detection of spoilage. By using real-time monitoring, you can ensure that your food stays at the ideal conditions to maximize its freshness and extend its shelf life. Food freshness detection provides actionable insights that help you make informed decisions, prevent spoilage, and reduce waste.

Learn more about our Sensing Solutions that enable Food Freshness Detection:

4-in-1 gas sensor BME690

Carbon monoxide detection

Carbon Monoxide detection – Enhance your safety!

Given the potential for Carbon Monoxide (CO) to be present in enclosed spaces such as homes, garages, and industrial settings, it becomes increasingly important to monitor this gas effectively. Early detection of carbon monoxide is crucial for ensuring your safety. Our 4-in-1 gas sensor BME690 is designed to measure CO levels accurately and in real-time, providing a vital solution for detecting this hazardous gas. This enables you to measure carbon monoxide in your surrounding and take action to protect yourself.

Learn more about our Sensing Solutions that enable Carbon Monoxide detection:

4-in-1 gas sensor BME690

Smoke emitting from a mountainous forest area.

Wildfire detection

Wildfire detection – protect the environment by preventing wildfires

Our 4-in-1 BME690 gas sensor can detect forest fires before they develop into open fires. By measuring various gases such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen and other that are often released during the initial stages of a fire, even before visible flames appear. By integrating the BME690 into environmental monitoring systems, it can continuously analyze the air for signs of increased levels of these gases. When the sensor detects unusual concentrations that may indicate the presence of a fire, it can trigger alerts for further investigation. This early warning capability allows for quicker response times, enabling authorities and firefighting teams to take preventive measures before a small fire can escalate into a larger wildfire.

Learn more about our Sensing Solutions that enable Air quality mapping:

4-in-1 gas sensor BME690

Sources

¹ American Lung Association (n.d.). Indoor air quality.
² World Health Organization (2024). Household air pollution and health.
³ BuildingGreen.(2018). We spend 90% if our times indoors.
⁴ European Parliament. (2023). Air quality: A comprehensive assessment of the EU’s air quality policy.
⁵ Transport Policy. (n.d.) China air quality standards.
⁶ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2024). Summary of the Clean Air
⁷ American Lung Association (n.d.). Indoor air quality.

Sensing solutions for better air quality

Clean air for a better life