Got Gas??????

Created By: Keaton Nicholson Nathan Boone Peter Seymour

Are the pM 2.5 levels at various gas stations significantly higher when gas is being pumped at the same stations?

Research Question

PM is short for particulate matter.◦ Measured in 2.5 microns.

Causes of pM 2.5◦ Liquids◦ Hydrocarbons◦ Soot◦ Dust ◦ Acids from aerosols

Background Information

Souces pM 2.5◦ Wood stoves◦ Combustion sources◦ Gasoline emissions

pM 2.5 particles are extremely microscopic◦ A human hair is 50 microns◦ pM is smaller than 2.5 microns in size

The EPA limit for pM 2.5 is less than .035 micrograms/ cubic meter.

We spend 85% of our time indoors.

Background cont……

If we you are filling up a tank at gas station, then the pM 2.5 level will be higher than when no gas is being pumped.

Hypothesis

DustTrack to collect data Sampled

◦ Mike’s Conoco (6 min.)◦ SafeWay gas station (7 min.)◦ Town Pump (10 min.)

Sampled continuously◦ Before◦ During◦ After

Methods

Mike’s Conoco Results

SafeWay Results

Town Pump Results

We could have filled up a full tank of gas at each station.

We could have tested when the same amount of cars were at each station.

We could have done one test when it was hot and sunny and another test when it was cold and cloudy.

Improvements

References

pM 2.5 rarely exceeds the outdoor air limit

No more dangerous than taking a walk in the park.

Town Pump gives off the most emissions.

Conclusion

Questions??????