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Keywords

aerosols, anions, California, Peru, suspended particles

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Physical Sciences

Is this submission part of ICaP/PW (Introductory Composition at Purdue/Professional Writing)?

No

Abstract

Aerosols, any solid or liquid suspended in air, have significant environmental and biological effects. Fine particulate matter can cause serious respiratory issues and aerosols in the atmosphere absorb and reflect radiation which can warm or cool the atmosphere, respectively. This study compares air quality at two urban areas, the city of Wilmington, CA in the United States and the city of Arequipa, Peru. Concentrations of emissions are under higher regulation standards in California than in Peru which is a developing country. Air filters that measured total suspended particles were collected every 24 hours on Marine Avenue in Wilmington, CA and Avenida Independencia in Arequipa, Peru. Anion concentrations were measured using ion chromatography after they were extracted from the filters by dissolving in water and filtered (0.45 m). For Wilmington, the sulfate concentration ranged from 0.74 to 7.48 g/m3, the nitrate concentration ranged from 0.24 to 5.23 ug/m3, and the chloride concentration ranged from 0 to 6.18 g/m3. Nitrate and chloride concentrations tended to increase from January to December while sulfate concentrations tended to decrease from March to December. For Avenida Independencia the sulfate concentration ranged from 3.0 to 6.0 g/m3, the nitrate concentration ranged from 1.9 to 2.0 g/m3, and the chloride concentration ranged from 0.5 to 1.0 g/m3. There was no discernible trend in anion concentrations in Avenida Independencia. By comparing California to Peru, the data shows that having regulations on air pollution successfully decreases anion concentrations which can improve human health and reduce environmental damage.

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Analyzing the Effect of Air Pollution Regulations on Aerosol Concentrations in Urban Areas

Aerosols, any solid or liquid suspended in air, have significant environmental and biological effects. Fine particulate matter can cause serious respiratory issues and aerosols in the atmosphere absorb and reflect radiation which can warm or cool the atmosphere, respectively. This study compares air quality at two urban areas, the city of Wilmington, CA in the United States and the city of Arequipa, Peru. Concentrations of emissions are under higher regulation standards in California than in Peru which is a developing country. Air filters that measured total suspended particles were collected every 24 hours on Marine Avenue in Wilmington, CA and Avenida Independencia in Arequipa, Peru. Anion concentrations were measured using ion chromatography after they were extracted from the filters by dissolving in water and filtered (0.45 m). For Wilmington, the sulfate concentration ranged from 0.74 to 7.48 g/m3, the nitrate concentration ranged from 0.24 to 5.23 ug/m3, and the chloride concentration ranged from 0 to 6.18 g/m3. Nitrate and chloride concentrations tended to increase from January to December while sulfate concentrations tended to decrease from March to December. For Avenida Independencia the sulfate concentration ranged from 3.0 to 6.0 g/m3, the nitrate concentration ranged from 1.9 to 2.0 g/m3, and the chloride concentration ranged from 0.5 to 1.0 g/m3. There was no discernible trend in anion concentrations in Avenida Independencia. By comparing California to Peru, the data shows that having regulations on air pollution successfully decreases anion concentrations which can improve human health and reduce environmental damage.