Should You Invest in a Filter Weighing Robot?

Air pollution is posing a threat to human health

Recent years have seen the implementation of many government initiatives worldwide to address the growing problem of air pollution.

Many emissions standards are beginning to focus on the management of pollutants that are added into the air by vehicles and as a side effect of urbanization.

Image Credit: nEwyyy/Shutterstock.com

Cars, power plants, and even small equipment all add to the levels of fine particles in the air that studies have shown to be linked with many respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Air pollution is also associated with reduced lung development, as well as an increased risk of bladder cancer, diabetes, dementia, and birth defects.

Studies are showing that with the modernization of geographical regions, industrial development and urbanization have increased the levels of pollutants in the air. While steps have been taken to tackle this, much more work is necessary.

Many initiatives are focusing on monitoring the level of pollutants in the air to collect and analyze this data, which is then used to inform interventions. Ensuring human health in this situation is dependent on understanding the level of pollution being introduced into the atmosphere from different sources.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), clean air is a basic requirement for human health, but data that is being collected from cities around the world have uncovered that in many places, people’s basic needs aren’t being met in this respect.

Why filter weighing is essential to emissions testing

For this reason, emissions testing and methods of air quality measurement have become essential in controlling air pollutants and protecting human health. Filter weighing is a key part of the emissions testing process. It weighs the particulate matter, solid particles, and liquid droplets that exist in the air, to give a measure of air quality.

Robotic systems have been established with the capabilities of conducting microgram-level filter weighing. These systems provide a reliable and accurate method of testing air quality and reduce the human labor required to run tests, making them more cost-effective and accessible.

The Clean Air Act

The National Ambient Air Quality Standards that have implemented regulations on harmful pollutants in the US. The Clean Air Act, which was first passed in 1963, demands that particulate matter concentrations must be monitored and reported both by the state and local agencies.

The monitoring of pollutants is conducted by Gravimetric analysis, where filter-based samples are weighed to determine the amount of particulate matter in the air. This legislation has made filter weighing an essential process that state and local agencies are required to conduct.

Filter weighing robots help agencies meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act by providing a robust method for monitoring the particulate matter.

Benefits of a filter weighing robot

Investing in a filter weighing robot has many benefits. Firstly, it is a reliable tool for meeting with government legislation requirements. But it also has advantages over alternative particulate matter monitoring systems.

For example, it can reduce costs through its automation, which requires little human intervention. This allows resources to be redistributed to other areas, where humans can be reassigned to more creative posts.

The robotic system can carry out measurements around the clock. Also, the system has proven its ability to take precise weight measurements with a high level of accuracy and speed. It is also resilient to environmental factors such as temperature, pressure and dew point. Overall, the system provides a robust and reliable method that reduces time and cost investment by minimizing the role of the lab technician in collecting and analyzing data. Investing in a filter weighing robot allows agencies to be confident they are in full compliance with current U.S. federal regulations, as well as benefiting from the advantages of a fully automated system.

Air pollution will be a continued focus

The current climate shows a growing concern for air quality, by both the general public, health organizations, and governments. Mounting evidence is beginning to uncover the threats that air pollution poses to human health and the environment, and the requirement to monitor and regulate the level of pollutants is likely to continue.

Almost all sectors are implicated in this area, with industry, energy, agriculture, transport, and other key sectors all acting as key underlying causes of air pollution. In addition to this, some domestic activities are also implicated in the addition of particulate matter to the air.

Because of this, more action is required to continue the progress that is being made. Therefore, filter weighing robots are likely to continue to be essential pieces of kit to both government agencies and companies in the implicated industries.

The monitoring of air pollution is likely to be a key focus for years to come, so an investment in a filter weighing robot looks probable to be beneficial for all those implicated in the movement of reducing air pollution.

Written by

Sarah Moore

After studying Psychology and then Neuroscience, Sarah quickly found her enjoyment for researching and writing research papers; turning to a passion to connect ideas with people through writing.