Anda di halaman 1dari 9

Furrow 1

Gage Furrow
Envl 3241
Evaluation of Air Quality of Envl Students Cars
Abstract:
Air quality is extremely important to people and the environment. Without clean air our world
would not be livable. To maintain air quality, the EPA and other such organizations set chemical
(pollutant) standards at which when exposed to those pollutants, they dont do us harm. For
example, the EPAs six criteria pollutants are ground level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur
dioxide, particulate matter, lead, and nitrogen dioxide. At harmful levels, these pollutants can all
eventually lead to death and at the very least they can cause respiratory issues and irritation to
the lungs, eyes, and skin. These pollutants can also impact animals in similar ways and can
degrade plants and by extension, the environment. To test for pollutants like these,
professor Chirenjes Pollution and Regulations class used a Greywolf indoor/outdoor air quality
sensor. This sections class tested environmental students vehicles and focused on carbon
monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and VOCs. The purpose of this exercise was to
gain practical experience using the air quality sensor and to increase our understanding of indoor
air quality. Of all the vehicles tested, Marrisas vehicle had the highest levels of pollution except
for hydrogen sulfide.

Table of contents:
Page 1- Abstract, Table of contents, Introduction
Page 2- Introduction
Page 3- Introduction, Results
Page 4- Results
Page 5-Results
Page 6- Results,
Page 7- Discussion
Page 8- Discussion, Conclusion
Page 9- References

Introduction:
In terms of air quality, the EPA has a set list of common pollutants that they deem harmful to
people and the environment. These pollutants are known as the six criteria pollutants and they
are ground level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, lead, and nitrogen
Furrow 2

dioxide. Each of these pollutants have their own sources of impacts on people and the
environment. Ground level ozone comes from the reaction of nitrogen oxide and volatile organic
compounds in the presence of sunlight. The sources of VOCs and NOx include industrial
facilities, electric plants, car emissions, gasoline vapors, and chemical solvents. In humans,
breathing in ozone can cause chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, airway inflammation. If a
person already suffers from bronchitis, emphysema, or asthma bad ozone can worsen these
conditions. In terms of the environment, ground level ozone can reduce photosynthesis, reduce
plant growth, and increase a plants susceptibility to disease, insect damage, and sensitivity to
stressors. Ozone exposure leads to the loss of a plants ability to perform its ecosystem services.
Carbon Monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that comes from burning things with carbon in
them. The main sources of CO are from the burning of fossil fuels when we drive our cars, boats,
planes, or use it as an energy, heating, or cooking source. For humans, breathing in high
concentrations of CO will reduce the amount of oxygen that is transported on the body. The side
effects of this can be dizziness, confusion, unconsciousness, and death. These effects can impact
animals as well. CO is especially dangerous in enclosed environments where clean air isnt
constantly moving.
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) comes from the combustion of fossil fuels like oil in power plants or
industrial facilities,but can be created anywhere where fossil fuels are being used. Examples are
smelting ores, natural sources like volcanoes and volcanic vents, trains, ships, and construction
equipment. A big environmental impact of sulfur dioxide is acid rain where it can directly
damage plants where it either kills them outright or makes them more susceptible to other
stresses like disease or insect damage. If it gets into water it can lower the pH making that water
body unlivable to aquatic plants and animals. Sulfur dioxide can also react with other compounds
in the atmosphere creating haze and reducing visibility. In people, sulfur dioxide can make
breathing hard, and form particulates that if get into lung tissue can cause lung cancer, worsen
breathing disorders and cause lung tissue damage. The acid rain from sulfur dioxide also can
damage human structure and cause problems for infrastructure due to corrosion.
Lead in our air comes largely from ore/ metal processing, leaded aviation fuel use in planes,
waste incinerators, lead smelting, and lead-acid battery manufacturers. In humans, lead can
accumulate in the bones and lead to nervous system disorders, organ dysfunction, immune
systems problems, heart disease, interfere with developmental processes, and lessen bloods
ability to carry oxygen. Environmental lead can decrease plant growth, poison waterways,
degrade soil, and cause similar health problems in vertebrates.
Particulate matter can come in many forms. It can be chemical, biological, or solid. Typically,
these particulates can come from chemical reactions in the atmosphere, construction sites,
unpaved roads, fields, smokestacks or fires. Particles can directly cause visual blocking by
density but the biggest problems come from particles that are less then ten microns in size
because they ca get into the bloodstream through the lungs. If inhaled the there is a huge list of
problems, they can cause individually and synergistically the same goes for environmental
effects. There are too may possible issues to list but an example for humans would be lung
Furrow 3

cancer and for the environment it would be reduction in primary productivity from coating of
leaves or surfaces.
Nitrogen dioxide is primarily produced from the burning of fuels in cars, trucks, busses, and
power plants. Short exposures to NO2 can irritate airways and aggravate asthma which may need
hospital treatment to fix. Long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide can cause a person to develop
asthma and increase ones susceptibility to respiratory infections. In the environment, nitrogen
dioxide can cause acid rain causing the same problems that were discussed for sulfur dioxide.

Objective Statement:
The objective of this exercise it to gain experience using a Greywolf indoor/outdoor air quality
sensor and to use those skills to evaluate air samples taken from inside and outside students cars
for carbon dioxide, TVOCs, carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide.

Results:
Furrow 4

Carbon Dioxide Indoor

Rachel

Nicole
Car Owner

Matt

Becky

Marrisa

0 100 200 300 400 500


PPM
Furrow 5

Carbon Dioxide Outdoor

Rachel

Nicole
Car Owner

Matt

Becky

Marrisa

0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000


PPM

TVOC Indoor

Rachel

Nicole
Car Owner

Matt

Becky

Marrisa

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
PPB
Furrow 6

TVOC Outdoor

Rachel

Nicole
Car Owner

Matt

Becky

Marrisa

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000 18000


PPB

Hydrogen Sulfide Indoor

Rachel

Nicole
Car owner

Matt

Becky

Marrisa

0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07


PPM
Furrow 7

Hydrogen Sulfide Outdoor

Rachel

Nicole
Car owner

Matt

Becky

Marrisa

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6


PPM

Table of outdoor air value differences for comparison


TVOC (ppm) CO2 (ppm) HS (ppm) CO (ppm)
min 0.044 297 0 0
Q1 0.057 113 0 0.087336245
Median 0.057 10 0 0.087336245
Q3 0.058 3 0 0.087336245
Max 0.149 865 0 1.048034934

Discussion:
The data collected is represented by box and whisker plots which show the variability of a set of
data. The meeting point of the boxes represents the median and the ends of the whiskers show
the highest and lowest variability of the data. Using these plots we can see a visual representation
of the differences between data relative to the calculated values to determine normality and
range. First, for carbon monoxide one ppm of CO is equal to 1.145 Mg/m3. There for, when
looking at these graphs, the US standard for safety states that any exposure to levels at 57.25
Mg/M3 at or longer than eight hours is harmful (Carbon Monoxide danger levels, 2016). The
data we gathered shows no levels that could be dangerous inside any of the cars. For outside of
the vehicles only Marrisas vehicle would cause danger at a high recorded range of nearly 100
Mg/M3. At these levels, any person in close proximity to the are outside could experience
dizziness or confusion.
Carbon dioxide for indoor samples ranged between a low of 330 ppm to nearly 450 ppm. These
levels fall within normal safe levels for occupied space with good airflow (What are safe levels
of CO and CO2 in rooms?, 2016). Outside readings all fall within safe limits except for Marrisas
car and her levels of up to 25000 ppm could cause person to feel unwell, confused, or loose
conciseness (What are safe levels of CO and CO2 in rooms?, 2016).
Furrow 8

Vocs for all cars both inside and out at around 50 to 75 ppb would cause eye and airway
irritation if exposed for an hour or longer (Vocs, 2016). The most significant reading for this
section was Marrisas car which showed levels that could be almost 6000 ppb. These levels
according to Berkeley labs could lead to nasal cancer and skin, eye, and airway irritation (Vocs,
2016).
Hydrogen sulfide according to OSHA is dangerous at a concentration of 2-5 ppm (USDl, 2016).
For all cars in both indoor and outdoor the highest concentration ranged only to .06 ppm. The
side effects of this as only a rotten egg smell (USDl, 2016). It may be annoying but it is not
dangerous. This is the only pollutant in all cars both inside and out that did not have the potential
to lead to any negative health effects.
The outdoor air comparison was done as a table because the graphical representation was too
skewed to understand or distinguish values. It is in this report as a control. The only significant
readings from the outdoor air were the CO2 values and fall well within safe norms as specified
already.

Conclusion:
Of all the parameters and vehicles tests, Marrisas car was repeatedly the one with greatest levels
of pollutants, both inside and out. Her vehicle must have a defective emissions control system
because the levels of VOCs, Carbon Dioxide, and Carbon Monoxide in and around her vehicle
are high enough where being within close proximity of it while running or driving in it could
lead to skin, eye, and airway irritation in the short term. In the long term, the VOCs could cause
nasal cancer. As for the carbon dioxide, if one is standing outside of it then they could suffer
unconsciousness, dizziness, or confusion if they are exposed for a half hour to hour period. For
carbon monoxide, if anyone where to linger around her car for a prolonged period of time they
could experience dizziness and confusion or headaches. I would advise her to get new car or at
least have a dealership service it. These pollutants like the six criteria pollutants (one of which is
carbon monoxide) have the potential to bring great harm to people. The data collected was from
a narrow sample so there is no statistical significance but some of this data is alarming and
would cause most people concern if they found out their cars were producing harmful chemicals.
It would be very interesting to test these cars again at different seasonal periods and at different
operational amounts to see if that effected the results. I would also advise a larger sampling event
to compare model, year, and type to see if there are any significant trends.
Furrow 9

References:
CARBON MONOXIDE DANGER LEVELS - Nyad, Inc. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2016,
from http://www.nyad.com/pdf/carbon_monoxide_danger_levels.pdf
Criteria Air Pollutants. (2016, October 19). Retrieved November 04, 2016, from
https://www.epa.gov/criteria-air-pollutants
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. (2016). Retrieved November 04, 2016, from
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/hydrogensulfide/hazards.html
VOCs and Sensory Irritation Symptoms or Sick Building Syndrome Symptoms. (2016).
Retrieved November 04, 2016, from https://www.iaqscience.lbl.gov/voc-sensory
What are safe levels of CO and CO2 in rooms? | Kane International Ltd. (2016). Retrieved
November 04, 2016, from https://www.kane.co.uk/knowledge-centre/what-are-safe-levels-of-co-
and-co2-in-rooms

Anda mungkin juga menyukai