Which particulate and crystalline silica monitoring should you choose for your construction sites?

Fine particles (PM1, PM2.5, PM10) and crystalline silica represent a major health risk on construction sites, where workers may be exposed to high concentrations of these pollutants. Fine particles come from various sources such as construction machinery, materials used, or even cleaning activities. They can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases, and other serious health conditions, particularly from exposure to crystalline silica, a well-known carcinogen.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the following exposure limits to reduce these risks:

• PM2.5: ≤ 5 µg/m³ (annual average exposure)

• PM10: ≤ 15 µg/m³ (annual average exposure)

• PM1: While the WHO has not yet set specific limits, high concentrations of these ultrafine particles are concerning.

To address these challenges, Ellona offers advanced devices to measure, identify, and monitor particles on construction sites. Dustkair, a portable device, measures inhaled particles—including crystalline silica—in real time and is worn close to the worker’s respiratory tract. This enables precise and immediate exposure assessment.

In addition, Ellona’s fixed WT1 Lite and WT1 Pro devices provide continuous air quality monitoring on-site. Installed at strategic points, they continuously measure particle concentrations, particularly in high-risk areas such as around heavy machinery, dusty work zones, and near offices or neighboring residences.

One of the key advantages of the WT1 Lite and WT1 Pro devices is that they do not only monitor fine particles. They also track and identify other environmental risks such as gases (e.g., CO, NO₂, SO₂), odors (from industrial or chemical sources), and noise. Thanks to advanced sensors and intelligent analysis, these systems provide complete monitoring of the construction site, helping managers identify multiple sources of pollution. This allows for a more precise and targeted risk management approach, addressing not only particulate pollution but also other nuisances affecting worker health and the surrounding environment.

The identification of particle types and their sources is enhanced by artificial intelligence algorithms that help understand particle behavior in the air and trace their origin (e.g., construction equipment or traffic). This enables real-time air quality management and more effective corrective actions.

The data collected by these sensors is centralized on the EllonaSoft platform, offering real-time tracking and detailed analysis of particle concentrations, gases, odors, and noise levels. The platform also detects pollution trends, localizes exposure zones, and generates alerts when regulatory thresholds are exceeded—allowing site managers to act quickly to protect worker health and minimize environmental impact.

In summary, with solutions such as Dustkair, WT1 Lite, and WT1 Pro, Ellona provides robust tools for monitoring fine particles, crystalline silica, gases, odors, and noise on construction sites. These technologies not only measure and quantify pollution but also identify its sources and support targeted corrective actions to protect workers and comply with health standards.

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For indoor environments such as living quarters or offices located on or near construction sites, Ellona’s POD2 is the ideal solution. This device monitors gases, odors, fine particles, and noise in enclosed spaces, ensuring a safe and healthy working environment for onsite teams.