1. 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

2. 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

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

4. 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

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

6. Lichens Are Early Warning System for Forest Health Article

7. 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?

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

9. How Low Level Ozone Forms

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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
Sulfur dioxide reacts to form sulfuric acid
Nitrogen dioxide reacts to form nitric acid
Normal Rain
Acid Rain

13. Acid Rain

14. Sources of Carbon Monoxide

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

16. Let’s Review:
Bozeman Lesson on Air Pollutation

17. Warning:
Bozman Lesson on Pollution Impact on Heatlh