Effect of Atmospheric Humidity on Fine Dust Measurement Using the Light Scattering Method

Abstract

The interest in fine dust has greatly increased. Therefore, sensors and devices for measuring the concentration of fine dust have been developed and are being used. For example, the distribution of light scattering measuring sensors has increased the use of self-measurement to manufacture and measure fine dust detectors. However, fine dust detectors that use light scattering are extremely sensitive to humidity; there is a highly sensitive component that recognizes water vapor in the air as fine dust. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to quantitatively understand the influence of atmospheric humidity on the concentration of fine dust and to use this understanding to correct measured values. In this study, we investigated the correlation between fine dust concentration and relative humidity measured by a fine dust sensor using the light scattering method. As a result, relative humidity and fine dust concentration exhibited a high positive correlation. The same trend was also observed when the humidity either increased or decreased.