Monitoring the composition of ambient air is a vital process in maintaining the quality of the air we breathe. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has attributed millions of deaths per year to air pollution and inhalation of industrial particulates emitted by vehicles and industrial plants. New research has underlined the severity of the issue, suggesting that the health impacts associated with polluted air are more severe than previously believed. The European Heart Journal estimates that air pollution reduces the mean life expectancy in Europe by approximately 2.2 years[1].