Measuring Particulate Air Pollution

What is particulate air pollution? A mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets
found in the air that inhaled can have serious health effects.
How does the EPA categorize particulate matter? PM10 : which are particles generally 10
micrometers or smaller. And PM2.5 : which are particles with a size of 2.5 micrometers or
smaller.
What are the health effects of each category of particulate matter? PM10 can harm
breathing by getting deep into your lungs and can even get into the bloodstream. This can
create heart irregularities and problems, aggravated asthma, and other respiratory issues.
PM2.5 is the main cause of reduced visibility across the U.S. (haze).
What are some of the environmental damages of particulate matter? PM can make lakes
and streams acidic, deplete nutrients in soil, damage plant life, and contribute to acid rain.

Materials: Slides with double sided tape in petri dishes labeled accordingly, Microscope
Hypothesis:
Where do you expect to find the highest and lowest numbers of particulate matter?
The living room petri dish should have the highest numbers of particulate matter, while
the bedroom should have the lowest particulate matter.

Particulate Data Table

Slide 1 J Slide 2 J Slide 3 C Slide 4 C Slide 5 A Slide 6 A Slide 7
Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location:
Basement Bedroom Living
Room
Days exposed 5 5 5 5 5 5
Field 1 33 26 7 12 5 8 22
Field 2 29 20 6 5 9 3 44
Field 3 32 36 3 14 4 2 49
Average count 31.33 27.33 5.33 10.33 6 4.33 38.33
Total number 94 82 16 31 18 13 115
Bar Graph:
Particulate Matter Lab
Number of Average Particulate
Matter Observed

Slide Observed

Analysis:
Put into words the trends you see in your data. Restate your important data.
All slides fell below the control slides average particulate matter count. The lowest count
was 4.33 and the highest was 38.33, a difference of 34. In general within a slide most
fields do not vary a great deal. It appears that areas with the most circulation accumulate
the most PM, as with Slide 5 and 6 (5 having the most circulation and PM).

Conclusion:
What was your original hypothesis? Did your data support your hypothesis? Why or
why not?
Originally it was predicted the living room would have the most PM. The data shows this
is wrong, the bedroom had the most PM. This is likely due to the fact that in the bedroom
a fan is running most hours of the night and some of the day. This air flows causes PM to
collect on the sample.
What law regulates the levels of particulate matter in the air?
The Clean Air Act.