A Pilot Study on the Main Air Pollutants in a Rural Community in Guanajuato, Mexico, Using a Low-Cost ATMOTUBE® Monitor

Air pollution is the second leading cause of death from non-communicable diseases. In Guanajuato, Mexico, the brick industry is the main economic source of polluting emissions, with the greatest health impacts. This sector has initiated government regulatory changes, but there is currently no monitoring of its impact on health. As a first pilot phase, this study’s objective was to measure the main air pollutants in a rural community in Guanajuato, Mexico, using a low-cost ATMOTUBE® monitor and to describe the area and population group at the greatest risk of exposure. An analytical and longitudinal design from September 2023 to February 2024, with the ATMOTUBE® measurement parameters VOC, PM1, PM2.5, PM10, temperature, humidity, and pressure, was used. During the six months of measurement, the results were as follows: a VOC of 4.15 ± 11.79 ppm, an Air Quality Score (AQS) of 65.17 ± 30.11, and a PM1 value of 4.90 ± 18.43 μg/m3. January–February 2024 was the period with the highest concentration of pollutants, with a maximum PM2.5 concentration of 664 ± 12.5 μg/m3, a maximum PM10 concentration of 650 ± 14.8 μg/m3, and a low humidity value (34.1 ± 5.2%). These values were found near two schools. The first inventory of the main air pollutants in this rural community is presented, with children and women being the population at greatest risk. With these data from this pilot phase, it is recommended to start implementing surveillance measures alongside health and nutrition indicators, mainly for the vulnerable population of this rural community.