BURNIN’ UP THOSE PM LEVELS

BRYNN 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.

Background Information

ProcedureHouse with Fireplace Set up DustTrak Lit a fire Let the DustTrak run for 24 hours Record dataHouse 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

DustTrak Placement

Graph of House w/ Fireplace

hh:mm:ss19:31:27 21:55:27 0:19:27 2:43:27 5:07:27 7:31:27 9:55:27 12:19:27 14:43:270

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.1

0.12

0.14

0.16

EPA Outdoor LimitPM Levels

Graph of House W/out Fireplace

16:33:2619:17:2622:01:26 0:45:26 3:29:26 6:13:26 8:57:26 11:41:2614:25:2617:09:260

0.005

0.01

0.015

0.02

0.025

0.03

0.035

0.04

EPA Outdoor Air LimitPM Levels

ResultsHouse W/out Fireplace Average: .004 mg/m^3 Minimum: .002 mg/m^3 Maximum: .025 mg/m^3House 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>.