Long-Term Validation of a Consumer- vs. Industrial-Grade Indoor Radon and Air Quality Monitor at a School in Utah
John D. Beard, Maren M. Ball, Christopher Kitras, Philip B. LundriganIn recent years, the demand for indoor radon and air quality monitors has increased while more affordable consumer-grade monitors have become available. The aim of our study was to assess the validity of the less expensive, non-calibrated, consumer-grade Lüft (SunRADON LLC, Melbourne, FL, USA) compared to the more expensive, annually and manufacturer calibrated, industrial-grade Model 1028 XP (SunRADON LLC, Melbourne, FL, USA). We collected data about 24 h moving averages of barometric pressure, carbon dioxide (CO2), radon, relative humidity, temperature, and volatile organic compounds (VOC) for approximately 29 weeks in 2024 in each of six rooms in a school in Utah. The mean difference in the co-located Lüfts’ and Model 1028 XPs’ 24 h moving average radon was −0.05 pCi/L of air (95% confidence interval: −0.24, 0.14, p = 0.50) and the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) was 0.92. The Lüfts’ and Model 1028 XPs’ 24 h moving averages were similar for barometric pressure (CCC: 0.87), but the Lüfts’ 24 h moving averages were lower than the Model 1028 XPs’ for CO2, relative humidity, and VOC and higher for temperature. The Lüft provided valid measurements of 24 h moving averages for barometric pressure and radon, but not for CO2, relative humidity, temperature, and VOC.