Is it safe to play?

BUS-ted

Why the Concern?

Excessive idling wastes over $100 per year, and generates needless greenhouse emissions

Exhaust has over 40 hazardous air

pollutants

What is PM 2.5?? Well then, what makes it up?!

PM is the symbol for the term Particulate Matter, the fine particles in the air that can affect health less then or equal to 2.5 microns.

PM includes liquids, hydrocarbons, soot, dusts, acids from aerosols, and smoke particles.

PM 2.5

¡WO

W!

Yes, the EPA limits PM 2.5 to .035 mg/m³ for outdoors, but does not limit indoors.

85% to be exact… Yes I know, shocking.

ContinuedDoes the EPA have a specific limit on this stuff??

Don’t we spend like our wholeentire day indoors??

¡SWEE

T!

IS IT SAFE TO PLAY?..

HYPOTHESIS

The PM 2.5 level will be higher

while the buses are idling/driving

then when the buses are not.

PROCEDURE

We set up the DustTrak near the fence to test the air quality near the buses

DustTrak Meter

RESULTS

hh:m

m:ss

15:2

4:05

15:2

5:05

15:2

6:05

15:2

7:05

15:2

8:05

15:2

9:05

15:3

0:05

15:3

1:05

15:3

2:05

15:3

3:05

15:3

4:05

15:3

5:05

15:3

6:05

15:3

7:05

15:3

8:05

15:3

9:05

15:4

0:05

15:4

1:05

15:4

2:05

15:4

3:05

15:4

4:05

0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.1

0.12

0.14

AerosolEPA

CONCLUSIONSWe found that the air quality was much better when the buses were off, higher readings when idling, and highest when actually driving

• Minimum of .004 mg/m^3• Average of .022 mg/m^3• Maximum of .128 mg/m^3

IMPROVEMENTS

Multiple Days of Testing Longer Testing Testing Before the Buses Arrive Testing After the Buses LeaveTesting inside of Buses as well

"Our Work." School Buses, Air Quality & Children's Health. Web. 22 May 2012. <http://www.cleanairpartnership.org/schoolbus>.

"Reduce Bus Idling." Reduce Bus Idling. Web. 22 May 2012. <http://www.hcdoes.org/airquality/Anti-Idling/BusAntiIdle.htm>.

"School Bus Idling Airborne Toxic Control Measure." School Bus Idling Airborne Toxic Control Measure. Web. 22 May 2012. <http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/sbidling/sbidling.htm>.

References