Biology has the tendency to repurpose existing mechanisms for other things. If an illness affects one of these processes, it might affect others as well.
Has anyone asked ChatGPT already? Using ChatGPT to find the correct search terms for vaguely described concepts seems very powerful. Knowing the correct terms makes or breaks web searches in my experience.
I can vouch for that. A friend built one of these and since it worked really well, so I and some others built five more last year. Make sure to put a piece of window screen over the openings of the tube to keep insects and spiders out. If you have enough dexterity, you can even hide the screen inside the opening of the tube to make it less unsightly.
These measurement devices have a limited lifetime and I think it is really the intake of dust and dirt that limits how long they can be used. That's why they're not running continously but for some seconds every few minutes (because flowing air will carry dust much more easily). If it's clogged up with dust or dirt, it really might be at end of life. I keep the electronics and sensor of mine in a closed box if I am not operating it.