8.4 Activities
Sticky dust
Monitor how much dust is in the air by trapping it with sticky tape.
Source: Trevor Costa.
Materials:
- 4 sheets of A4 paper
- sticky tape
- pens
- Blu Tack or equivalent
- magnifying glass
- scissors
- Choose four safe outdoor locations to set up dust traps.
- Write down the location, start date and time on a different sheet of paper for each trap.
- Cut a 20cm piece of sticky tape and make a loop. Stick one side onto the paper and leave one sticky side exposed to the air. Do this for each of the locations.
- Use Blu Tack to attach the paper with the sticky tape on it to a wall or window at each of the locations.
- After a week, collect the papers. Take a photo of the trapped dust. Next, remove and examine the exposed tape (a magnifying glass may help).
- Record your results in the table below.
| Location | Exposure time (days) | Observation of tape |
| 1. | ||
| 2. | ||
| 3. | ||
| 4. |
Questions:
- Where did you trap the most, and least, dust?
- Suggest reasons for the differences.
- Would the results be different if the pieces of paper were left in position for months? Suggest why or why not.
Plotting particles
Graph monthly concentrations of Particulate matter 2.5 to identify trends.
In the ACT, air particles called Particulate matter 2.5Particles in air that are 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter. or PM2.5Particles in air that are 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter. come from home wood heaters, industry, motor vehicles, controlled burnsAlso known as prescribed or hazard reduction burns, controlled burns are fires that are started on purpose to reduce fuel loads and help protect homes, farms and infrastructure. They are also used to improve the health of ecosystems and for cultural reasons by Aboriginal people., bushfires, dust storms and plants in the form of pollen. The Monash air quality monitoring station in Tuggeranong takes measurements of PM2.5Particles in air that are 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter. every hour throughout the year. In this activity, you’ll use real data to identify trends in air pollution.
Materials:
- Computer or tablet, or graph paper and pencil
The table below shows the average of the highest PM2.5Particles in air that are 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter. readings taken each month from 2016 to 2022.
| Month | Micrograms per cubic metre |
| January | 15 |
| February | 17 |
| March | 15 |
| April | 23 |
| May | 32 |
| June | 36 |
| July | 32 |
| August | 26 |
| September | 19 |
| October | 13 |
| November | 16 |
| December | 13 |
Using a computer spreadsheet program, graph paper, or by printing out the graph template below, you can plot the PM2.5Particles in air that are 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter. concentrations in the air against the months from January to December.
Questions:
- During which months are Particulate matter 2.5Particles in air that are 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter. concentrations greatest?
- Can you suggest reasons why?
- How does poor air quality affect human health and wellbeing?