These days, growing sources of pollutants are having major effects on air quality worldwide. From smoke emanating from wildfires, to the release of greenhouse gases from vehicles and infrastructure–harmful air particles are constantly being released into our atmosphere.

These particles can have major adverse effects on health because of their ability to penetrate deeply into lungs and other internal organs, contributing to a wide range of health issues.

For air quality purposes, air particles are mainly placed into two main categories, based on their diameter in micrometers (also known as microns).

Particles with a diameter between 10 and 2.5 microns (PM10) are categorized as coarse particles. These can include dust, pollen, mold, and some combustion particles. While these air particles are primarily filtered by the throat and nose, they still have adverse respiratory effects such as asthma, coughing, and difficulty breathing.

On the other hand, particles with a diameter under 2.5 microns (PM2.5) are categorized as fine air particles. These particles are most commonly created through combustion and chemical processes in the atmosphere(smoke from fires, vehicle emissions, and industrial processes). These particles are more dangerous than PM10 particles as they can penetrate much deeper into the lungs, and even enter the bloodstream. This leads to more severe health effects, including cardiovascular diseases (e.g., heart attacks, strokes), respiratory issues (e.g., asthma exacerbation, chronic bronchitis), and even premature death.

To help students understand the prevalence of these air particulates in our day-to-day lives, AP Environmental Science teacher Nicole Loomis conducted an experiment to find the locations on campus with the worst air quality.

“We’re doing a lab that uses little stickers…and you peel the back off and leave them sticky side up, and [pollutant particles] fall on them,” Loomis said. “We’re gonna look at it under a microscope… and we’re going to compare different locations… It’s nice to give the kids a chance to do some science that they can see.”

Pollutant particles drift through the air and can get stuck to the sticky cards, so students leave the cards face up to capture these particles. After leaving these cards for a weekend around schools, students can look at the cards under a microscope to see the types and sizes of particles which were left behind on the cards.

With California being a breeding ground for large wildfires and mass vehicle emissions, air quality can decrease quickly, resulting in reduced visibility and an influx in respiratory irritants. To counteract these issues, California and other states are constantly working on new legislation to keep our environment healthy and habitable.

“We have a lot of special California emissions on cars and specially formulated gasoline, which is more expensive than other states, but gives us better air quality… our cars have catalytic converters… and you can’t drive anywhere without seeing some Teslas,” Loomis said.

Through AP Environmental Science, students are able to learn more about their environment and the world they live in, paving the way for a safer, cleaner world which will stay with us for generations to come.

“Everybody lives in this world, in this environment, and our choices matter,” Loomis said. “This class really helps you to understand how your choices impact the environment… there’s just so many different pathways people could take in careers that might touch on the environment…it’s just a really good way to think about the world.”