air quality monitoring lab
Collaborators-
Griffin Matthews and Taylor Berry
Griffin Matthews and Taylor Berry
Abstract-
An experiment was conducted to compare the air quality inside to the air quality outside. The two factors measured were particulate matter (dust and fine particles) and ozone (a harmful, non-desireable gas in the lower atmosphere). Two index cards with petroleum jelly were used to collect particulate matter. One was placed outside, on a wall not in direct sunlight and one was placed inside, on the bottom floor, on top of a locker. We also placed cornstarch and potassium iodide covered ozone test strips inside and outside on a tree. The particulate matter results were fairly expected, more particulate matter outside than in. Most of the outside particulate matter was in the form of bits of leaves and soil particles. The ozone test for inside came back with zero ozone and the outside test came back with a medium ozone rating of 5.5. Overall I think we received good results.
An experiment was conducted to compare the air quality inside to the air quality outside. The two factors measured were particulate matter (dust and fine particles) and ozone (a harmful, non-desireable gas in the lower atmosphere). Two index cards with petroleum jelly were used to collect particulate matter. One was placed outside, on a wall not in direct sunlight and one was placed inside, on the bottom floor, on top of a locker. We also placed cornstarch and potassium iodide covered ozone test strips inside and outside on a tree. The particulate matter results were fairly expected, more particulate matter outside than in. Most of the outside particulate matter was in the form of bits of leaves and soil particles. The ozone test for inside came back with zero ozone and the outside test came back with a medium ozone rating of 5.5. Overall I think we received good results.
Problem-
How do indoor and outdoor conditions effect the air quality of the air indoors and out?
How do indoor and outdoor conditions effect the air quality of the air indoors and out?
Materials-
Potassium Iodide
Corn Starch
Beakers
Filter Paper
Index Cards
Tape
String
Petroleum Jelly- Something for the particulate matter to stick to.
Microscopes
Potassium Iodide
Corn Starch
Beakers
Filter Paper
Index Cards
Tape
String
Petroleum Jelly- Something for the particulate matter to stick to.
Microscopes
Methods-
1. Start by preparing the test ozone test strips. Dip the filter paper into the cornstarch gel and then into the potassium iodide mixture. Repeat this step once and you will have 2 test strips.
2. Place one of the test strips outside, out of the direct sunlight, and one inside.
3. Leave overnight and check your results the next day.
4. Now, draw 2-3 circles on an index card and fill the circles with a thin layer of petroleum jelly. Repeat this step to have 2 petroleum jelly index cards.
5. Place one index card outside, also out of direct sunlight, and one inside.
6. Leave for 2 days and then observe the results.
1. Start by preparing the test ozone test strips. Dip the filter paper into the cornstarch gel and then into the potassium iodide mixture. Repeat this step once and you will have 2 test strips.
2. Place one of the test strips outside, out of the direct sunlight, and one inside.
3. Leave overnight and check your results the next day.
4. Now, draw 2-3 circles on an index card and fill the circles with a thin layer of petroleum jelly. Repeat this step to have 2 petroleum jelly index cards.
5. Place one index card outside, also out of direct sunlight, and one inside.
6. Leave for 2 days and then observe the results.
Data- Descriptions located in the captions of the photos
Data Analysis-
Ozone is created by VOCs + NOx + Heat + Sunlight. All of which is evidently present outside and none of which inside. I'm not sure what the ozone was for the day this experiment was conducted, but I remember it wasn't particularly hot (heat is a key component of ozone production). So I would hypothesize that these ozone results are typical for a late summer day. Our outdoor particulate matter (PM) did have more PM than the indoor. The outdoor PM was mostly bits of natural particles like bits of leaves and soil. The indoor PM was mostly lint and dust as would be expected as it was indoors.
Ozone is created by VOCs + NOx + Heat + Sunlight. All of which is evidently present outside and none of which inside. I'm not sure what the ozone was for the day this experiment was conducted, but I remember it wasn't particularly hot (heat is a key component of ozone production). So I would hypothesize that these ozone results are typical for a late summer day. Our outdoor particulate matter (PM) did have more PM than the indoor. The outdoor PM was mostly bits of natural particles like bits of leaves and soil. The indoor PM was mostly lint and dust as would be expected as it was indoors.
Conclusion-
For the most part our experiment results were expected. I did, however, find in observing some other group's indoor particulate matter index cards that our bottom floor particulate matter (PM) index card was more covered in dust, lint, and other PM than the other two groups index cards that were placed on the second and third floors. Furthermore, the second floor index card had more PM than the third floor. This is now leading me to the assumption that PM is more concentrated on lower floors due to gravity pulling it down. The ozone test also yielded expected results. The indoor ozone test came up with nothing which is a good thing. Stratospheric ozone is beneficial to us by blocking ultraviolet rays. But on the surface it is a respiratory irritant. This article is a pretty good summary of the health effects of surface level ozone. (Link to article). Our results, as indicated by the pictures above, suggested a moderate ozone level of 5.5 out of 10. This is somewhat of a contrast to other groups that were getting ratings in the 9's or 10's. Since sunlight is an integral part of ozone production and our test strip was in the shade, I have reason to believe that our results are fairly accurate.
For the most part our experiment results were expected. I did, however, find in observing some other group's indoor particulate matter index cards that our bottom floor particulate matter (PM) index card was more covered in dust, lint, and other PM than the other two groups index cards that were placed on the second and third floors. Furthermore, the second floor index card had more PM than the third floor. This is now leading me to the assumption that PM is more concentrated on lower floors due to gravity pulling it down. The ozone test also yielded expected results. The indoor ozone test came up with nothing which is a good thing. Stratospheric ozone is beneficial to us by blocking ultraviolet rays. But on the surface it is a respiratory irritant. This article is a pretty good summary of the health effects of surface level ozone. (Link to article). Our results, as indicated by the pictures above, suggested a moderate ozone level of 5.5 out of 10. This is somewhat of a contrast to other groups that were getting ratings in the 9's or 10's. Since sunlight is an integral part of ozone production and our test strip was in the shade, I have reason to believe that our results are fairly accurate.
Citations-
http://healthvermont.gov/enviro/indoor_air/Ozone.aspx - An article referenced in the conclusion.
http://healthvermont.gov/enviro/indoor_air/Ozone.aspx - An article referenced in the conclusion.