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Burnin’ Up Those PM Levels Brynn Ingraham Ashlee Brewer Melissa Poe Claire Venery. Introduction. Question: Does having a fire place in the house effect the air quality? Hypothesis: The PM 2.5 level will be higher in a house that has a fire place than one that doesn’t. Background Information.
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Burnin’ Up Those PM LevelsBrynn IngrahamAshlee BrewerMelissa PoeClaire Venery
Introduction • Question: Does having a fire place in the house effect the air quality? • Hypothesis: The PM 2.5 level will be higher in a house that has a fire place than one that doesn’t.
Procedure House with Fireplace • Set up DustTrak • Lit a fire • Let the DustTrak run for 24 hours • Record data House without Fireplace • Set up DustTrak • Let the DustTrak run for 24 hours • Record data
Methods • We used the DustTrak to collect the air quality of a house with a fireplace vs. a house without one. • On March 17 2012 we sampled the air qualities of the houses for a time period of 24 hours. • We then compared the data
Results House W/out Fireplace • Average: .004 mg/m^3 • Minimum: .002 mg/m^3 • Maximum: .025 mg/m^3 House With Fireplace • EPA Limit: .035 mg/m^3 • Average: .004 mg/m^3 • Minimum: .001 mg/m^3 • Maximum: .146 mg/m^3
Conclusion • By looking at the graphs we concluded that by having a fireplace in your home the Outdoor EPA Limit: .035 mg/m is exceeded. • When the fire is first lit the PM levels are the highest but then it drops to a safe level when burning. • If you have a good air circulation in your house then having a fireplace will not be harmful to your health.
Improvement to Test • Take into account the different variables between the houses being tested. • Keep detailed records of activity around the DustTrak. • Compare two houses that have fireplaces but different air circulation.
References • "BAAQMD - Wood Burning Rule Information." BAAQMD - Wood Burning Rule Information. Web. 09 May 2012. <http://www.baaqmd.gov/?sc_itemid=156191E5-F112-4633-935E-FE9B58272325>. • "Wood-Burning Fireplaces & Air Pollution." - AchooAllergy.com. Web. 09 May 2012. <http://www.achooallergy.com/fireplace-air-pollution.asp>. • "Yolo-Solano AQMD :: Woodsmoke From Fireplaces and Woodstoves." Yolo-Solano AQMD :: Woodsmoke From Fireplaces and Woodstoves. Web. 09 May 2012. <http://www.ysaqmd.org/burn-woodstoves.php>.