Particulate Matter:

Particulate matter is composed of tiny particles of dust and associated chemicals that can be inhaled into the lungs and lead to respiratory health effects.  Vehicle exhaust from buses and cars is a primary source of particulate matter in schoolyards.

 

Results:

At all times particulate matter concentrations were within the acceptable range. However, a noticeable increase in concentrations was observed before and after school, coinciding with the times when buses and cars were arriving and leaving  school.

Clean Air Sudbury

This project was made possible by a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Culture. Additional funding and in-kind support was provided by Clean Air Sudbury member organizations, including Vale Inco, Xstrata Nickel, MIRARCO, Laurentian University, the Sudbury & District Health Unit, the Ontario Ministry of Environment and the City of Greater Sudbury (Earthcare Initiatives).

“The Program was very interesting and informative.  Students were able to observe actual equipment used in the field...they were able to have many views and applications of this information.” 

- Grade 11 Chemistry teacher at Bishop Alexander Carter.

Air Quality Resource Guide:

An education guide was prepared to assist the teachers involved in the schoolyard air quality monitoring programs and other teachers in Greater Sudbury who would like to incorporate material on local air quality issues into their science classroom curricula. 

Click here to download a copy: Air Quality Resource Guide

The Project:

Clean Air Sudbury, in partnership with the Mining Innovation Rehabilitation and Applied Research Corporation (MIRARCO), coordinated a schoolyard air quality monitoring program at four high schools in Greater Sudbury.  The program was conducted at Confederation and Lockerby high schools in 2006-2007 and at LoEllen Park and Bishop Alexander Carter high schools in 2007-2008.  Air monitoring equipment, on loan from the Ministry of Environment, was set up in each of the schoolyards for up to a month, with a focus on measuring particulate matter.

The project incorporated aspects of research including monitoring, data gathering, statistical analyses and report production combined with an educational component which entailed student/teacher interaction, curriculum enhancement and presentations by local air quality professionals. Students  became familiar with state-of-the-art air quality and meteorological monitoring equipment and how that equipment is used by professionals to measure air quality.  They also learned how air pollution can impact human health and the environment.