Final 1 Another One Bites the Dust

This topic submitted by Margot Bosscher, Craig Seidel, Vanessa Bauman, Brett Heneghan on 10/9/03 .

Natural Systems 1 Syllabus---Western Program---Miami University

Another One Bites the Dust

Margot Bosscher, Vanessa Bauman, Brett Heneghan, Craig Seidel

Introduction

The purpose of this study is to compare the mass of dust particulates per volume in a dormitory with a central air heating system (Peabody Hall on Western Campus) and one without (Mary Lyon Hall also on Western Campus). We hope to determine if there is a significant difference in the dust levels between the aforementioned halls. We predict that there will be a significantly lower dust content (mass per volume) in Peabody Hall due to the central air system. As a group we hope to collect enough data to make a viable scientific study.
Our group decided upon this topic after a discussion of the advantages of air conditioning in Peabody. We began to question whether the air conditioning makes a difference in the level of dust particulates (including allergens), which is the supposed reason students with asthma are housed in such a hall. Our original research design focused on a study of the effects of air conditioning on dust, but we had to modify our question. As the seasons turned, the temperature dropped, and air conditioning was shut off. Although we could not use air conditioning specifically as our independent variable, we realized that Peabody Hall is still on a central air system, and Mary Lyon is not. Thus our study only changed slightly.
We are interested in this topic of study because we are concerned for our health. We also wanted to know why students received air conditioned housing just because they had allergies. We wanted to know how air conditioning works and if it truly make a difference in the levels of dust in the dormitories.

Relevance of Research Question/ Background Information
We feel this topic of study is relevant to any student who has allergy concerns. When filling out a housing form for Miami University, there is an option to live in an air conditioned dormitory for health reasons. If we discover that there is not a significant difference between dormitoriesÕ levels of dust particulates, then it may be considered a hazard, or Òthe potentialÉ to cause harm to nature, property, or peopleÓ (Hines 12). If the hazard is not eliminated, the issue may be brought to legal action because Òignored health complaints in public buildings are becoming the rationale for lawsuits, and homeowners are living in fearÓ (Hess-Kosa 11). Before legal action is taken, Housing and Dining Services at Miami University may choose to address the situation and solve the problem.
Dust is comprised of many different components, but dust is commonly defined as fine particles of matter (as of earth), or the particles into which something disintegrates. Particulates of dust occur in nature, yet humans have discovered ways to control the abundance of dust in interior areas. Although air may be filtered indoors, there are still ways that dust can be redirected into the air caused by various activities including vacuuming (Hines 23). Most of the released particulates are Òinorganic fibers, metals, and organic materials,Ó which if inhaled can pose serious health complications (Hays 38).
Dust can be controlled and collected by many different methods including absorbers, incinerators, condensers, mechanical collectors, baghouses, wet scrubbers, electrostatic precipitators, flute gas desulfurization systems, and stacks. These methods are complex and utilized by professionals only, because they are expensive and time consuming (Air Pollution). The common solution for homes is an air conditioning unit. For the purpose of this study, we are collecting dust though an electric filter.
Air conditioning is often viewed simply as a luxury for homes and buildings. Actually it has important functions for maintaining an indoor climate. Its basic function is to ÒconditionÓ the air, including heating and cooling, cleaning and controlling moisture levels. Its major components are a filter, furnace, cooling unit, compressor, and fan (Figure 1). This is important in controlling the levels of dust pollution, including dust particulates and allergens. Our study will focus on the health related function of air conditioning, filtering the air. This function of air conditioning is relevant to our study because we want to know if the air conditioner really ÒconditionsÓ the air properly as itÕs suppose to. If this is the case then Peabody will have a lower dust mass than Mary Lyon.
Figure 1

(www.ari.org/consumer/howdoesitwork.howACwks.html)

Research Design:
Our design is the incorporation of two buildings with four trials of dust collection within each of the halls using four different rooms in each hall. We will be measuring the volume of dust that occurs in an air-conditioned building versus a building with no air conditioner. From the results we will be able to determine if the air-conditioned dorm really supplies condition of air, which should result in less dust volume. The instrument that will be used for the collection of dust is a Hamilton Beach Air Cleaner that will have replacement filters. These filters will be replaced every two weeks for the four trials.
Methods:
The methods of our research are based upon exact measurements of weight and time. Our measurement device will be the Hamilton Beach Air Cleaner. This device uses air filters that are recommended to be changed every 4 weeks. In our experiment we be using 2 separate filtering units. One unit will be placed in Mary Lyon Hall and the other unit will be placed in Peabody Hall, each of these locations being on Western Campus of Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA. In order to eliminate some factors such as different living conditions affecting the air quality we will be changing the location of the filtration units every two weeks when we change the filters. When changing the filters there are a number of steps that are absolutely crucial for accurate results.
It is important that we get the weight of the filters prior to putting them into the filtration units. The basis of our measurement is on the weight of the dust. At the end of each two-week increment, we will place the filter inside of a plastic bag in order prevent the loss of any dust which could be vulnerable to elements such as wind. We will also weigh the bag prior to placing the dirty filter inside. Then we will weigh the bag and the filter to the nearest thousandth. From this weight we will subtract the weight of the filter prior to the two-week increment and then subtract the weight of the plastic bag and have the weight of the dust collected in the two-week increment. These final measurements will be recorded in Table 1.
We are varying the room locations in order to provide a better statistical result. If we were to only sample one room in each hall, it would be more of a comparison between the two rooms themselves rather than the halls. Each of the hallsÕ locations are shown on the map in Figure 1 below. The layouts of each of the rooms being tested within those halls are given in Figures 2 and 3 as well. All the room specifications are recorded in Tables 2 and 3.

Data:

Figure 2

(http://www.hdg.muohio.edu/code/MyCard/MYmenu.php?MYpage=MYcampusMap.php&thisperson=public&ImageMap=fromMenu)

Table 1
Room Date Started Date Measured Initial Weight Final Weight Difference
P1
M1
P2
M2
P3
M3

Table 2
Room Resident(s) Width Length Square Feet # Windows Window Dim.
P1 Brett & Brian 10Õ 2Ó 15Õ 11Ó 161.83 1 79Ó x 49Ó
P2 Adam & Charlie 10Õ 2Ó 15Õ 11Ó 161.83 1 79Ó x 49Ó
P3 Elliot & Tom 9Õ 11Ó 16Õ 5Ó 162.8 1 79Ó x 49Ó
P4 John & Bill 10Õ 2Ó 15Õ 11Ó 161.83 1 79Ó x 49Ó

Table 3
Room Resident(s) Width Length Square Feet # Windows Window Dim.
M1 Sandy & Steph 14Õ 6Ó 10Õ 3Ó 148.625 1 79Ó x 64Ó
M2 Shelli & Vanessa 14Õ 6Ó 12Õ 4Ó 178.83 1 79Ó x 64Ó
M3 Margot & Katie 14Õ 6Ó 12Õ 4Ó 178.83 1 79Ó x 64Ó
M4 Jennifer & Sarah 11Õ 11Ó 14Õ 6Ó 172.79 1 79Ó x 64Ó

Resources:
Air Pollution Control Equipment: Selection, Design, Operation, and Maintenance. Ed. By Louis Theodore and Anthony J. Buonicore. Prentice-Hall Inc.: New Jersey, 1982.
Hess-Kosa, Kathleen. Indoor Air Quality: Samplingmethodologies/Kathleen Hess-Kosa.
Boca Raton, Fla: Lewis, c2002.
Hays, Steven M., Ronald V. Gobbell, and Nicholas R. Ganick. Indoor Air Quality: Solutions and Strategies. McGraw-Hill Inc: New York, 1995. Page 38.
Hess-Kosa, Kathleen. Indoor Air Quality: Sampling Methodologies. Lewis Publishers: Florida, 2002. Page 11.
Hines, Anthony L., Tushar K. Ghosh, Sudarshan K. Loyalka, Richard C. Warder, Jr. Indoor Air Quality and Control. PTR Prentice-Hall New Jersey, 1993. Page 12, 23.
McCarthy, Samet, Spengler. Indoor Air Quality Handbook. New York: McGraw-Hill,
c2001.
www.ari.org/consumer/howdoesitwork/howACwks.html October 8, 2003.
www.epa.gov/iaq
www.hdg.muohio.edu/code/MyCard/MYmenu.php?MYpage=MYcampusMap.php&this
person=public&ImageMap=fromMenu October 9, 2003.
www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary October 9, 2003.
www.ohsa-slc.gov/SLTC/indoorairquality/
www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/hlsaf2/ncr393.pdf
www.parrett.uk.com/dustmeas1.htm