Local air pollution begins at home

Activity 3

Common sources of atmospheric pollution

This activity is designed to familiarise you with the most common sources of atmospheric pollution in your area and the environmental factors affecting the distribution of pollutants.

  • Find out which government authority is responsible for monitoring pollution levels in your area.

  • Find out how pollutant concentrations are measured, where they are measured, and at what times of the day and week they are measured.

  • How are pollution levels reported in your newspaper – as individual pollutant concentrations, or as a pollution index? A pollution index is a measure of the combined effect of several individual pollutants. If your newspaper reports a pollution index, find out how it is calculated.

  • What are the maximum permissible concentrations in your State for the various pollutants measured?

  • Record pollutant concentrations and pollution indexes every day for one month, noting wherever possible the time and position of measurement and the prevailing weather conditions.

  • Use this record and a map of your area to determine which neighbourhoods are susceptible to pollution, and under what conditions.

  • Identify possible sources of air pollution in your area.
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Posted August 1997.