Pollutants and Our Environment - Essay Example

Week One Our environment is filled with a number of pollutants. There is some theory that some of these pollutants are in the form of solid matter that we cannot see; yet we breathe such matter into our lungs every time we are outdoors. To test out the theory that we are breathing solid matter into our lungs, I am going to conduct an experiment that will allow me to trap the matter, so I’m able to see this for myself. I begin this experiment by me taking a clean white coffee filter, punching holes in it on two sides and feeding fishing string through the holes. The ends of the string will be hooked to the clothespins on my clothes line. Rigging up the filter in this fashion keeps it from bumping into any trees or other objects outdoors, which would taint the entire experiment. Next, I smear Vaseline on both sides of the filter. The entire filter is practically covered with the Vaseline, which will enable any solid matter in the air to stick to the filter, allowing us to see what is exactly in the air that we breathe every day, as well as have a means for getting a rough measurement. While we will not be able to measure the particles in a numeric sense, we will have a clue as to what is going into our lungs when inhaling in the air outdoors. As it stands right now, the Vaseline covered coffee filter is a very shiny white. It has a very shiny clean appearance, and it feels very slick to the touch. There are no dust particles and other solid matter on it. However, by the end of the experiment, I hypothesize that the entire filter will be covered with dust and other solid matter, being that there are a great deal many pollutants in the air from the things that we do in our everyday environment. The coffee filter will be covered so much that the solid matter will be caked onto it, and the shininess that is now present will be no more. The filter will have a completely dirty appearance, as well as being gritty to the touch. Week Two The filter appears to have very small and gritty looking dirt particles on it, which I can assume are a mixture of dirt and other solid matter in the air that are caused by pollution. The dirt particles and solid matter are trapped by being stuck to the Vaseline. The filter still has a lot of shininess and cleanness left on it; nevertheless, it is beginning to look dirty. The dirt particles are of a brown color, and they appear to be small, such as like that of grains of sand. Dust particles are also mixed in along with the dirt particles, and the dust has a powdery look. The layer of dirt, solid matter and dust on the filter is very thin, hence the reason that I can still see a lot of shininess. The filter does not look at all what it did when the experiment began in week one, when it looked clean, shiny, and untouched. I then proceed to feel the filter. While I still feel a great deal of uncovered Vaseline, there are gritty particles throughout it. They seem to be equally distributed among the filter. Along with the gritty feeling is a feeling like that of powder, which is from the dust that has been trapped on the filter by the Vaseline. The dust feels as though I’m feeling a thin layer of cooking flour. The dust particles are very fine, much finer than the dirt particles and solid matter that has been trapped on the filter. Week Three I check on the coffee filter, and it looks progressively dirty. It is getting increasingly difficult to see any shininess through the layer of dirt, solid matter, and dust that is stuck to the filter. The appearance has definitely changed since week one. I also touch the filter, and it feels much grittier and more powdery than it has in the first couple of weeks. The grime also feels much thicker, as well. It is difficult to feel any clear space of Vaseline that is not covered. Week Four The entire filter is covered. The layer of dirt particles, dust, and other solid matter that is in our air has left no shininess that is visible to my naked eye. The entire filter is a very grimy brown. When I feel the filter, I cannot feel any clear space of sticky Vaseline. As a matter of fact, the filter is so covered, that the Vaseline no longer sticks to my hands. Just as a layer of flour keeps batter from sticking to a baking pan, the thick layer of solid matter, dust, and dirt, on the filter keeps my hands from sticking to the filter. Everything that I hypothesized has occurred. The entire filter is covered, and it is very grimy to the touch. Weeks Appearance of Filter How Filter felt Fulfillment of Hypothesis 1 Clean and shiny. Very sticky, as no Vaseline is covered. Hypothesis is stated and will be tested. 2 Slightly grimy. Slightly gritty and powdery feeling. Very slightly 3 Pretty grimy. Feels more gritty and powdery. Practically 4 Can see no shininess at all. Completely covered and can feel no stickiness of Vaseline. Yes Responses Friend no. 1: Wow! I can’t believe that we breathe all of that stuff into our lungs. It is no wonder so many people have breathing problems, such as asthma. Friend No. 2: If we are breathing all of that stuff that is trapped onto that filter into our lungs, then we are in a world of trouble. Something really has to be done about this, such as making an effort to clean up our environment. Friend No. 3: Wow! That was a very clever experiment that you did. Way to go! What an excellent way to prove your point that the air that we are breathing is anything but healthy. Dear Government representative: I’m writing to you out of concern for the safety of our environment and the effect that environmental pollution has on our overall health. Every day, we inhale this pollution into our lungs, and some of this pollution is in the form of solid matter that we cannot see, and I believe that inhaling such solid matter has an effect on our overall health, and such matter can possibly be the cause of breathing problems that are widely found in our general population today. To test my theory about there being solid matter that is caused by pollutants in the air that we breathe, I decided that I’d conduct an experiment. The purpose of this experiment was to see how dirty our air really was and how much of the pollutants are in the form of solid matter. In order for me to see that solid matter was really in the air, I took a plain coffee filter, punched holes on each end of it, strung fishing wire through the holes, and hung each end of the string on my clothes line to keep the filter from bumping into any trees or other objects, which would taint the experiment. Over a four week period, I carefully examined the solid matter collecting onto the Vaseline covered coffee filter, until the final week. What I discovered during this four week experiment was quite shocking, as by the fourth and final week, the coffee filter was completely caked and covered with solid matter from the pollutants in the air, and it concerned me so much that I felt compelled to sit and write you a letter regarding this issue. Not to mention, three other individuals that I’ve discussed the experiment with, as well as showed them my findings, also feel a grave concern for our environment and how it affects our health. If we are going to continue to live in a way that is healthy and pure, some changes are going to have to be made to cut down on the pollution that is in our environment. I feel that laws need to be passed that will call for individuals living in a greener fashion. For instance, recycling should be mandatory. Cars should be manufactured to run in such a way that will not contribute to the pollution in our environment. And finally, there should be proper disposal of toxic waste. It is my hope that you will contribute to passing such laws that will enable us to look forward to a healthier tomorrow. Thanks so much for giving my strong concerns time and attention. I look forward to some change that will insure our health and vitality for years to come. Warmest regards, Read More