Katie Milo

Period 2
12-18-15

Monitoring Air Quality Lab

Introduction
In this lab, we used observations to test lichen presence(sulfur dioxide
concentrations), tropospheric ozone concentration, and particulate matter presence
in the common air that we all breathe- helping us understand air quality.

Hypothesis
If we test the sulfur dioxide concentrations, tropospheric ozone concentrations, and
particulate matter presence, then it will show that all of these levels are high and
show extreme pollution in our air outside our school campus.

Data
Lichens:
Data Title
Tree Diameter
# of each lichen

Score for quality (Hawksworth & Rose

Index)

Numerical Data
20 inches
Crustose= > 20
Foliose= > 20
Fruticose= 5
9. foliose, leafy and crustose lichens
present (good air, low sulfur dioxide
concs)

Ozone:
Data Title
Ozone #
Ozone in ppb

Numerical Data
10
160 ppb

Particulate:
Data Title
Overall Assessment

Data
Very light
When viewed under the
microscope, it contained green,
purple, and brown

Katie Milo
Period 2
12-18-15

Katie Milo
Period 2
12-18-15

Conclusion
According to the results, my hypothesis- that our air quality would not be healthy
and be filled with extreme pollution- was proven wrong in some aspects. Our data
testing dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets shows not only a light presence of
particulate matter under the microscope, but the Hawksworth and Rose Index shows
good air and low sulfur dioxide concentrations. On the other hand, the tropospheric
ozone exposure is extremely high. Our ozone indicator paper was rusty, dark

Katie Milo
Period 2
12-18-15
brown/purple, and hard/crusty. It was 10 on the Schoenbein scale. This number
relates to how high the concentration of tropospheric ozone is. In conclusion, our
particulate matter and sulfur dioxide exposures are relatively low, but our ozone
levels are dangerously high.

Post-lab Questions:
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

The ozone concentration for Schoenbein paper with a Schoenbein Number of

2 and a relative humidity of 23% is 130 ppb. For 48%, it is about 60 ppb. For
81%, it is about 15 ppb.
If the ozone concentration for two areas was 100 ppb, the Schoenbein
Number would be about 2 for 23% humidity. For 48%, it would be about 4.
For 81%, it would be about 10.
The wind direction during this study was blowing north east. This affects my
measurements because the wind is blowing from the southwest, if it is
blowing towards the north east. Therefore, the pollutants are being carried in
the air directly from pollution sources of the southwest. This could include
South American countries or even Southwestern States.
According to the South Coast Air Quality Management District, our air quality
is considered good-including ozone. In comparison to our data by using the
Schoenbein paper, our data APPEARS to show high levels of ozone. This
proves that the paper tactic was not the best way to understand air quality
levels and is unreliable for truthful information.
During the test site during the lab on December 11, 2015, the UV Index was
0. This could have lowered ozone levels because of the lack have radiation
seeking through the clouds and to the surface. This shows that the
tropospheric ozone on that day was generally stable, especially because the
same website said that ozone levels were good. This goes against the
Schoenbein paper test results of high tropospheric ozone.
Our number of ozone ppb is 160. This goes against the Clean Air Act
standard of 80 ppb. In my opinion, I think that the measurement we made
was accurate towards the air quality of Wake County. This is because Wake
County is being built up in extreme growth rates. There is constant
combustion from so many people, agriculture from food production/demand,
and burning of fossil fuels for energy resources. Ozone is from broken up
Oxygen atoms and sunlight. This break is induced by presence of aerosols
and other pollutants. High levels of aerosols are present because of air
conditioners, refrigerants, etc. Much of these sources are present in Wake
County. Therefore, the ozone will be produced in high amounts in Wake
County, breaking the Clean Air Act standards.
13% of the US are not meeting the ozone requirements of the Clean Air Act
because of high industry levels in specific areas of growth. Usually these
areas including parts of California, the North East, and especially North
Carolinas are growing at a high rate and need more construction and building
to occur. This may also entitle these areas to more agriculture, burning of
fossil fuels, and combustion. High populations mean more resources are

Katie Milo
Period 2
12-18-15
used. Making these resources is an easy way to make more pollution.
Therefore, more levels of ozone.
7. Particulate matter was not important until the 1990s because there was not
as much of it in the air, nor was it noticeable. Starting in the 1990s , asthma
began to develop more frequently and so did the rise in particles in the air
due to construction and industry elements. More trash, emissions, and
developments grew rapidly during these times because of new technologies
as well. This pushed people to create more pollution more easily without
them trying to. They took advantage of these new technologies, and as a
result during this period, it produced more particulate matter.