Air Quality Lab
Collaborators -Collaborators- Matt, Yascis, Leah
Abstract -Based on our experiment the methods were fairly simple. We basically covered a surface with a sticky substance and waited for things to stick to it. In addition the results may have been fairly accurate. In actuality the methods were very simple despite their effectiveness. For the PM measurements we put Vaseline on a microscope slide and let all the little particles in the air collect on the slide. We did the same thing with for the ozone measurement on a piece of paper. Also, all of the results showed the same trend about the difference between the air quality outside and the air quality inside. The prevailing trend was that the air quality outside was worse than inside.
Problem –How does the indoor air quality of Heritage high school compare to the outdoor air quality
Hypothesis –Because most of the things that cause PM and ozone are outside, then the conditions outside should be worse than inside
Parts of the experiment -The independent variable is the location of the slides and paper. The dependent variable is the levels of ozone and PM. The control group was the slides and paper inside a closed environment, and the experimental groups were placed throughout the school. Also, the controller variable was were the slides and paper where placed.
Materials -Test Tube Rack, Filter Paper, Microscope slides, Petroleum Jelly, Q-tips, Microscopes, Potassium Iodide, Corn starch, Beakers, Spatulas, and Large Graduated Cylinders
Methods -1. Half the class should work on preparing the ozone monitoring test strips by placing 100ml of water in a 250 ml beaker, and adding 5g of cornstarch. Then heat and stir the mixture until it gels (when the mixture becomes thick and clear). Remove the solution from heat, add 1 g of potassium iodide, stir well, and allow to cool. After the solution has cooled, lay a piece of filter paper on a petri and brush the paste onto the filter paper. Turn the filter paper and brush the paste on the other side. Hang up and allow the filter paper to dry. Cut the papers into 1 inch-wide strips. Store the strips in a plastic bag out of sunlight.
2. The other half of the class will prepare Particulate matter collectors by smearing a thin layer of petroleum jelly onto a microscope slides. Try to make the layer as even as possible. Use a q-tip to lightly smear the specimen side of each slide. You will need to prepare 2 slides per group and place them in a slide container to avoid smearing the petroleum jelly on anyone.
3. Each group will place one labeled slide on the exterior of the school. Some groups should choose areas that would receive few particulates, others should choose locations that produce more particulates. (Keep in mind sources of particulate matter)
4. One member from each group should take the second slide and place it in a location inside the school.
5. You should then place your ozone monitoring strip outside for 8 hrs. Before placing the strip outside, dip the strip in distilled water, then attach the strip out of sunlight. When placing your strip find the relative humidity for that day.
6. The next day, each group should collect their slide and ozone monitoring strip. Dunk each strip into distilled water.
7. Use the relative humidity and the Schoenbein number to calculate the concentration of ground level ozone.
8. Look at your particulate matter slide under the microscope. First decide the amount of particulates and then attempt to estimate the source of the PM. Your group will need to decide how you can classify what type of PM was collected.
Data-
Abstract -Based on our experiment the methods were fairly simple. We basically covered a surface with a sticky substance and waited for things to stick to it. In addition the results may have been fairly accurate. In actuality the methods were very simple despite their effectiveness. For the PM measurements we put Vaseline on a microscope slide and let all the little particles in the air collect on the slide. We did the same thing with for the ozone measurement on a piece of paper. Also, all of the results showed the same trend about the difference between the air quality outside and the air quality inside. The prevailing trend was that the air quality outside was worse than inside.
Problem –How does the indoor air quality of Heritage high school compare to the outdoor air quality
Hypothesis –Because most of the things that cause PM and ozone are outside, then the conditions outside should be worse than inside
Parts of the experiment -The independent variable is the location of the slides and paper. The dependent variable is the levels of ozone and PM. The control group was the slides and paper inside a closed environment, and the experimental groups were placed throughout the school. Also, the controller variable was were the slides and paper where placed.
Materials -Test Tube Rack, Filter Paper, Microscope slides, Petroleum Jelly, Q-tips, Microscopes, Potassium Iodide, Corn starch, Beakers, Spatulas, and Large Graduated Cylinders
Methods -1. Half the class should work on preparing the ozone monitoring test strips by placing 100ml of water in a 250 ml beaker, and adding 5g of cornstarch. Then heat and stir the mixture until it gels (when the mixture becomes thick and clear). Remove the solution from heat, add 1 g of potassium iodide, stir well, and allow to cool. After the solution has cooled, lay a piece of filter paper on a petri and brush the paste onto the filter paper. Turn the filter paper and brush the paste on the other side. Hang up and allow the filter paper to dry. Cut the papers into 1 inch-wide strips. Store the strips in a plastic bag out of sunlight.
2. The other half of the class will prepare Particulate matter collectors by smearing a thin layer of petroleum jelly onto a microscope slides. Try to make the layer as even as possible. Use a q-tip to lightly smear the specimen side of each slide. You will need to prepare 2 slides per group and place them in a slide container to avoid smearing the petroleum jelly on anyone.
3. Each group will place one labeled slide on the exterior of the school. Some groups should choose areas that would receive few particulates, others should choose locations that produce more particulates. (Keep in mind sources of particulate matter)
4. One member from each group should take the second slide and place it in a location inside the school.
5. You should then place your ozone monitoring strip outside for 8 hrs. Before placing the strip outside, dip the strip in distilled water, then attach the strip out of sunlight. When placing your strip find the relative humidity for that day.
6. The next day, each group should collect their slide and ozone monitoring strip. Dunk each strip into distilled water.
7. Use the relative humidity and the Schoenbein number to calculate the concentration of ground level ozone.
8. Look at your particulate matter slide under the microscope. First decide the amount of particulates and then attempt to estimate the source of the PM. Your group will need to decide how you can classify what type of PM was collected.
Data-
Lab questions- 1. Wake forest did not make the standard for the clean air act of this day. The average ppb that day was about 128 ppb. I believe that the experiment was fairly inaccurate because the school is not that far from a power plant, so it can be believed that the school is down wind of what produces what we are measuring.
2. I think that these region are in non-compliance because, either its too expensive or they don't think its worth the trouble.
3. The reason that PM was taken into account for the clean air act was probably because it causes harm to the respiratory system, and it probably wasn't added to the act until the 1990's was because they didn't know it was there or that it presented any dangers.
4. The PM samples did meet my expectations. I was expecting all the PM to be outside, were it came from.
5. Monitoring air quality is important because we need to figure out if we need to regulate ozone and PM, and by how much, if we want to keep people safe.
Analysis- The experiment shows that there was more ozone and PM outside then there was inside. It does this because outside is were Ozone and PM come from. On the inside air is constantly circulated and filtered making the air cleaner on the inside.
Conclusion- My hypothesis was that the air quality outside would be worse outside than on inside, and it turns out I was correct. My hypothesis was probably correct because inside a building were there is an AC unit, old air is circulated out of the building while new air flows back in via AC or heater. Plus, what the ozone and PM comes from, originates from outside.
General Analysis- The air quality on the outside is worse than the air quality inside, and that is normally everywhere. There will always be more ozone and PM outside, and that will not change mainly due to the circulation of air inside buildings.
General conclusion- In our modern society, the air quality outside has always been worse than inside, and based on observation that is not going to change for a while. However, in an ideal society the air quality outside should be the same, if not better, than the air quality inside. Although, that would not be expected to happen any time soon. All in all, health wise, it is actually better for you to stay inside, but that is on a technicality.
2. I think that these region are in non-compliance because, either its too expensive or they don't think its worth the trouble.
3. The reason that PM was taken into account for the clean air act was probably because it causes harm to the respiratory system, and it probably wasn't added to the act until the 1990's was because they didn't know it was there or that it presented any dangers.
4. The PM samples did meet my expectations. I was expecting all the PM to be outside, were it came from.
5. Monitoring air quality is important because we need to figure out if we need to regulate ozone and PM, and by how much, if we want to keep people safe.
Analysis- The experiment shows that there was more ozone and PM outside then there was inside. It does this because outside is were Ozone and PM come from. On the inside air is constantly circulated and filtered making the air cleaner on the inside.
Conclusion- My hypothesis was that the air quality outside would be worse outside than on inside, and it turns out I was correct. My hypothesis was probably correct because inside a building were there is an AC unit, old air is circulated out of the building while new air flows back in via AC or heater. Plus, what the ozone and PM comes from, originates from outside.
General Analysis- The air quality on the outside is worse than the air quality inside, and that is normally everywhere. There will always be more ozone and PM outside, and that will not change mainly due to the circulation of air inside buildings.
General conclusion- In our modern society, the air quality outside has always been worse than inside, and based on observation that is not going to change for a while. However, in an ideal society the air quality outside should be the same, if not better, than the air quality inside. Although, that would not be expected to happen any time soon. All in all, health wise, it is actually better for you to stay inside, but that is on a technicality.