3. INTRODUCTION
• Air pollution is defined as the release of
harmful amounts of natural or synthetic
materials into the atmosphere as direct or
indirect result of human activity
4. • The severity of air pollution in a given area
depends on several factors including
i. climate,
ii. topography,
iii. population density and
iv. the number and type of industrial activities.
5. • Air pollution may be broken down into four
categories:
i. Ambient or outdoor air pollution
ii. Indoor air pollution
iii. Occupational air pollution
iv. Personal air pollution
6. • In this experiment we will use a high volume
air sampler to measure TSP. The 24 hour air
quality standard established for TSP is
260µg/m3. The size range of particles trapped
on the filter is typically less than 25-50µm but
greater than 10µm.
7.
8. Calculation
• TSP concentration = 10^6 (Wf - Wi ) g/m^3
• Where;
RD
• Wi = 2.63g
• Wf = 2.76 g
• R = average flow rate
= (0.85-0.57)/5
=0.056x4
=0.224CMM + 0.57
= 0.794CMM x 60
3
=47.64 m / hr
9. • D = duration of exposure (hour)
= 1530 hr until 0900 hr
= 17.30 hr
• RD = total volume of air passing through
• TSP concentration 10 ( 2 . 76 2 . 63 ) g / m
6 3
3
47 . 64 m / hr (17 . 30 hr )
157 . 73 g
10.
11. Question 1:
How would your filter look like if it were placed
alongside a road? Next to the factory? Why is the
location of the filter important?
The filter look same at the two areas as the
particulate pollutants in these two area are almost
the same. But, variation may occur due to presence
of chimney air filter, automotive cabin air filters and
others. The location of the filter is important because
the amount of total particulate pollutants (TSP) is
vary from location to location as the TSP in rural area
less than the urban area, TSP near factory more
compared to inside a forest.
12. Question 2:
Do you consider the air pollution in your area to be
dangerous? If so, what are the contributors to the
air pollution in your area? If air pollution is not a
problem now, do you think it will be in the future if
nothing is done to protect air quality?
The air pollution in this new campus is still not
consider to be dangerous, however there still have
some particulate pollutants present in this area as
the contribution from vehicles and building
construction. Actually air pollution is consider as a
problem now and it will become worse in the future
if nothing is done to protect air quality.
13. • “Particulate pollutants" also known as particulate
matter or PM, is a complex mixture of extremely
small particles and liquid droplets. Particulate
pollution is made up of a number of components,
including acids (such as nitrates and sulfates),
organic chemicals, metals, and soil or dust
particles.
• The size of particles is directly linked to their
potential for causing health problems. Particles
that are 10 micrometers in diameter or smaller
are the particles that generally pass through the
throat and nose and enter the lungs. Once
inhaled, these particles can affect the heart and
lungs and cause serious health effects.
14. Particulate pollutants can grouped into two
categories:
• "Inhalable coarse particles" such as those found
near roadways and dusty industries, are larger
than 2.5 micrometers and smaller than 10
micrometers in diameter.
• "Fine particles," such as those found in smoke
and haze, are 2.5 micrometers in diameter and
smaller. These particles can be directly emitted
from sources such as forest fires, or they can
form when gases emitted from power plants,
industries and automobiles react in the air.
15. Levels of Cautionary Statements
EPA Air Quality
Health PM2.5 PM10
Index
Concern
0 - 50 Good None None
51 - 100 Moderate None None
Unhealthy for People with respiratory or heart People with respiratory disease,
101 - 150 Sensitive disease, the elderly, and children such as asthma, should limit
Groups should limit prolonged exertion. outdoor exertion.
People with respiratory disease,
People with respiratory or heart
such as asthma, should avoid
disease, the elderly, and children
outdoor exertion; everyone else,
151 - 200 Unhealthy should avoid prolonged exertion;
especially the elderly and children,
everyone else should limit
should limit prolonged outdoor
prolonged exertion.
exertion.
People with respiratory or heart People with respiratory disease,
disease, the elderly, and children such as asthma, should avoid any
Very
201 - 300 should avoid any outdoor activity; outdoor activity; everyone else,
Unhealthy
everyone else should avoid especially the elderly and children,
prolonged exertion. should limit outdoor exertion.
Everyone should avoid any outdoor Everyone should avoid any outdoor
exertion; people with respiratory or exertion; people with respiratory
301 - 500 Hazardous
heart disease, the elderly, and disease, such as asthma, should
children should remain indoors. remain indoors.
16. What are the health effects of particle pollution?
Short-term increases (over hours to days) in
particle pollution have been linked to:
• death from respiratory and cardiovascular causes,
including strokes
• increased numbers of heart attacks, especially among
the elderly and in people with heart conditions
• inflammation of lung tissue in young, healthy adults
• increased hospitalization for cardiovascular disease,
including strokes;
• hospitalization for asthma among children
• aggravated asthma attacks in children.
17. Year-round exposure to particle pollution has also
been linked to:
• increased hospitalization for asthma attacks in
children living near roads with heavy truck or trailer
traffic
• stunted lung function growth in children and
teenagers
• significant damage to the small airways of the lungs
• increased risk of heart attacks and strokes in older
women
• increased risk of dying from lung cancer
• greater risk of death from cardiovascular disease
18. Who is at risk?
Anyone may be affected by particle pollution, but
several groups are most at risk:
• Children under 18
• Adults 65 and older
• Anyone with chronic lung disease, such as asthma,
chronic bronchitis, or emphysema
• Anyone with a cardiovascular disease, such as high
blood pressure, coronary artery
• disease, or congestive heart failure
• Anyone with diabetes.
19. CONCLUSION
At the end of this experiment, we are able
to :
understand the significant of particulate
pollutants.
Become familiar with air sampling
technique for total suspended particulates
(TSP).
Determine whether our environment is
free of air pollutants.
