Air Pollution Assay Lab How to Determine the Presence of a Pollutant using a Biological Indicator Species Air pollution is defined as the presence of or introduction into the air of a substance which has a harmful or poisonous effect

Structure of a Lichen Lichens: Indicator Species for the Environment Symbiotic relationship between a fungus and an algae. Methylene blue will dye the cell walls of the hyphae. Methylene blue binds to the cell. A cation will dislodge the dye molecule. Heavy metals are cations. Lichens: Indicator Species for the Environment

Pollutant Solutions Cadmium chloride Lead chloride Lithium chloride Manganese chloride Sodium chloride Zinc chloride Distilled Water Control Blue-colored Glass Cleaner

Two Part Assay Punch out 5 disks of lichen Drop disks in methylene blue. Push disks down until wet. Leave in dye for 30 minutes Remove disks from dye and rinse with distilled water. Add 10 ml of solution to a test tube Add 5 disks to a test tube filled with a designated pollutant solution Shake tube every 5 minutes for 30 minutes Record observations Part 1- Dyeing Lichen Disks Part 2 – Leaching of Methylene Blue

Results Solution Intensity of Blue Color Cadmium chloride Lead chloride Lithium chloride Manganese chloride Sodium chloride Zinc chloride Distilled Water Blue-colored Glass Cleaner

Lichens Are Early Warning System for Forest Health Article

Six Major Air Pollutants as per the Environmental Protection Agency Low Level Ozone Carbon monoxide Sulfur dioxide Nitrogen dioxide Particulates Lead What are the sources?

This is not the same as protective ozone Low Level Ozone This is not the same as protective ozone

How Low Level Ozone Forms

Lead Ore and metals processing and piston- engine aircraft operating on leaded aviation fuel. People may breathe it in and particularly children, can swallow lead dust that has settled onto surfaces like soil, dust, and water. Lead in soil and dust stays around for many years because it does not decay or decompose.

Sulfur Dioxide and Nitrogen Dioxide Sulfur dioxide comes from the burning of coal and oil. It is very smelly. The main sources of SO2 are power plants Nitrogen dioxide comes from the burning of fossil fuels (like gasoline). The main sources of NO2 are cars, trucks, and power plants. Smog

Comparing Rain Water pH value of between 5.0 and 5.5, which is slightly acidic Carbon dioxide reacts with water forming carbonic acid pH value between 4.2-4.4 Sulfur dioxide reacts to form sulfuric acid Nitrogen dioxide reacts to form nitric acid Normal Rain Acid Rain

Acid Rain

Sources of Carbon Monoxide

What could be the reasons for these values? Literature Citation for Map What could be the reasons for these values?

Let’s Review: Bozeman Lesson on Air Pollutation

Warning: Bozman Lesson on Pollution Impact on Heatlh