HINT: if you want a particulate sensor and don't want to solder anything, buy an SDS011 with USB interface.

15 euros on aliexpress.

Do you have any recommendations on software to interface with it?

Last year I was able to get it working by looking at examples like https://github.com/lewapek/sds-dust-sensors-arduino-library and the datasheet https://cdn.sparkfun.com/assets/parts/1/2/2/7/5/Laser_Dust_S...

There's a nice walkthrough here: https://www.hackster.io/taunoerik/using-sds011-dust-sensor-0...