Air Pollution

When hazardous gases are produced by the vaporization of dangerous substances, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are produced. Each year, huge amounts of VOCs are released by natural occurrences like wildfires. However, a significant percentage of the planet's overall VOC emissions are caused by industrial activities and other human-made processes.

VOCs are an important pollutant because of their contribution to the formation of ground-level ozone. When exposed to sunlight, VOCs in the air react with nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO), forming tropospheric ozone (O3).

The ozone in the stratosphere, when occurring naturally, plays a critical role in protecting the planet as it absorbs harmful UV rays from the sun. These substances, however, can promote plant diseases, obstruct seed formation, and impair fertilization if they are generated at ground level.

IIn this challenge students will have to determine the place where to install the VOC sensor, as well as analyze the results obtained during the corresponding measurements.

It essential to mitigate air pollution and eliminate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as they pose serious threats not only to the environment, but also human’s health.

CO2 is a gas naturally produced by animals during respiration and through decay of biomass, and used by plants during photosynthesis, yet it accounts only for a tiny percentage in the atmosphere. However, it is one of the most important greenhouse gases.

Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are rising as a result of the burning of fossil fuels, which is thought to be a contributor to global warming.

In this challenge you will have to determine the place where to install the CO2 sensor and analyze the results obtained during the corresponding measurements.

The ozone gas (O3) is extremely reactive and colourless. It is produced by electrical discharges (lightning) that occur naturally in the upper atmosphere between the altitudes of 15 and 35 km. This stratospheric ozone shields the Earth from the Sun's harmful UV radiation. Under suitable conditions, interactions between sunlight and air pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOX) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) result in increased amounts of ozone at ground level.

Ozone is the main component of the "photochemical smog" (a mixture of pollutants that are formed when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react to sunlight, creating a brown haze above cities) that results from these interactions. The main producers of nitrogen oxides and VOCs are combustion activities, which include motor vehicle engines, power plants, and particularly bushfires.

At ground level, exposure to elevated ozone concentrations can cause health and environmental problems. It can negatively affect human cardiac and respiratory systems and cause irritation to the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs when present at concentrations significantly above natural background levels. Ozone not only affects human health but also vegetation growth, and it can damage materials, such as rubber, fabric, masonry, and paint.

In this challenge, students will have to determine the place where to install the Ozone Gas Sensor and analyze the results obtained during the corresponding measurements.

Did you know that we spend between 80% and 90% of the time of our lives indoors? School, workplace, shops, home... In developed countries we spend little of our time outside, so the quality of the air we breathe indoors is of great importance.

As you know, the air we breathe contains mainly oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen, but it also consists of hundreds of other components. Therefore, quality air refers to the presence, or absence, of certain substances in a certain space.

Dust, pollen, dirt, sulfur dioxide and many other microorganisms are what determine the concentration of pollutants. If we can measure these values in a space and optimise them, we will find that the air quality can improve a lot.

The school entrance is where cars, buses and people gather.

In this learning scenario, you will have to select the place where you want to install the particle measurement sensor and analyse the results obtained during a period of time.

Did you know that we spend between 80% and 90% of the time of our lives indoors? School, workplace, shops, home... In developed
countries we spend little of our time outside, so the quality of the air we breathe indoors is of great importance.

As you know, the air we breathe contains mainly oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen, but it also consists of hundreds of other components. Therefore, quality air refers to the presence, or absence, of certain substances in a certain space.

Dust, pollen, dirt, sulfur dioxide and many other microorganisms are what determine the concentration of pollutants. If we can measure these values in a space and optimise them, we will find that the air quality can improve a lot.

The workshop is a closed work area with operations that can emit dust, coolant, etc.

In this learning scenario, you will have to select the place where you want to install the particle measurement sensor and analyse the results obtained during a period of time.

Did you know that we spend between 80% and 90% of the time of our lives indoors? School, workplace, shops, home... In developed countries we spend little of our time outside, so the quality of the air we breathe indoors is of great importance.

As you know, the air we breathe contains mainly oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen, but it also consists of hundreds of other components. Therefore, quality air refers to the presence, or absence, of certain substances in a certain space.

Dust, pollen, dirt, sulfur dioxide and many other microorganisms are what determine the concentration of pollutants. If we can measure these values in a space and optimise them, we will find that the air quality can improve a lot.

The laboratory is a closed space where many students work with different chemical reactions.

In this learning scenario, you will have to select the place where you want to install the particle measurement sensor and analyse the results obtained during a period of time.