Particulate Air Pollution Investigation Purpose: To develop an understanding of
ID: 166453 • Letter: P
Question
Particulate Air Pollution Investigation Purpose: To develop an understanding of the number and type of particulates in the air around the school or your Question: What location in your school or home has the most particulate pollution? Hypothesis: will have particulate pollution and be sure to include Make a prediction about which location the most this in the introduction of your lab report. Materials; Ziploc bags masking tape magnifying glass 7 index cards petroleum jelly Procedure: school or home that you would like to test for particulate 1. Decide upon 6 locations in your pollution. Record this data section. form of a statement and 2. a hypothesis. Remember that your hypothesis should be in the answer the investigation question. 3. Create 7 separate particulate collectors. a. Using a quarter make a circle in the center of each index card. b. Smear each index card with a thin layer of petroleum jelly. be a control). Write your name and location number on each card (one will d. Place each particulate collector in a Ziploc bag and close immediately. the air at 6 locations 4. Remove the particulate collectors from their bags, and leave them exposed to and leave it sealed where particulate levels may differ for 24 hours. Designate card #1 as a control a small hole in one in the bag. (NOTE: if you want to hang the particulate collectors you can punch end and attach a piece ofstring) their Ziploc bags. Examine the index 5. After 24 hours retrieve the cards and place them back in that fell cards, your control, with a glass. Count the number of particulates on each one within the circle and record these numbers in the data table. 6. Examine and the particulates (identifying them if possible) and record this in your data describeExplanation / Answer
1. Introduction-
Air pollution can be caused by various kinds of substances of different sizes and origin. One such pollution causing agent are particulate matter. It is formed from very minute particles of solid and droplets of liquid present in air. On the basis of the size of these pollutants, particulate matter is classified into two categories. One class comprises of particles which are smaller than 2.5 um and other one is which come under 10 um. These are not visible with naked eyes and can be seen or observed using a more accurate device, i.e. electron microscope.
Some of the common examples are smoke or soot released by burning of fossil fuels and also the industrial smoke. Minute mineral particles released into the air by mineral industries and during metal production are also considered as particulate matter. Oxides of sulfur and carbon, ammonia and other organic material under 10 um size are considered as particulate matter.
Since these particles are too small, they can easily enter the respiratory tract, if inhaled. So the major affected areas are the lungs and blood. Apart from this, it causes haze or affect the visibility.
The school area is supposed to have more PM as compared to home, because its more exposed to pollution causing activities, more people and covers more area and usually open.