GENERAL AIR QUALITY
Is your head in the clouds when it comes to air quality issues? No problem! Just click on these links to learn about all the air quality basics. Find links to websites, games and activities to get you started.
GENERAL AIR QUALITY
Koko the cartoon chameleon guides you through the basics of air pollution. Grades 3-6. http://www.epa.gov/airnow/aqikids/index.html
An overview of air pollution problems with games, quizzes and cartoons on a variety of environmental issues. Grades 3-6. http://edugreen.teri.res.in/explore/air/air.htm
Tiki the Penguin wants to share all kinds of stories, games, puzzles and other fun stuff that will help make the world a better place. Do a search for Air Pollution, Climate Change or Energy. Grades 3-8.
http://www.oneworld.net/penguin/
EEK: Environmental Education for Kids. Surf around, or search specifically for air pollution, climate change or energy. Grades 3-8.
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/
The EPA's Student Center Air page has links to websites about many air quality problems. A great site to jumpstart that research paper! Grades 5-12.
http://www.epa.gov/students/air.htm
Check out these topics at Newton's Apple: acid rain, electric cars, greenhouse effect, ozone, photosynthesis and more...Grades 5-12.
http://www.tpt.org/newtons/10/ozone.html
An introduction to indoor and outdoor air pollution, health effects and prevention. Grades 8-12.
http://www.lbl.gov/Education/ELSI/pollution-main.html
Watch Your Step! Understand the impact of your consumption on the world.
Grades 7-12.
http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/cases/footprint/footprint.htm
Advanced AQ General Information & Online Data Resources
Maine DEP's Info page on "criteria pollutants" that are regulated by the government. The air we breathe can become contaminated with pollutants from a variety of natural and man-made sources. Since federal legislation was enacted in 1970, air pollution control has focused on "criteria" air pollutants, including sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ozone (O3) and particulate matter, which are primarily by-products of fossil fuel combustion. Here you'll find a brief definition of each.
http://www.state.me.us/dep/air/emissions/criteriapollutants.htm
Research on lichens and some very small organisms living on them can be used to assess atmospheric levels of sulfur dioxide, SO2. Find out how you can conduct a study of lichens and air pollutants.
http://pathfinderscience.net/so2/
UNH - AIRMAP a project to develop a detailed understanding of climate variability and the source of persistent air pollutants in New England.
http://airmap.unh.edu/home/index.cfm
DEP's BEAM air monitoring site in Portland - access online, real time data of selected air quality pollutants happening in Portland right this very minute.
http://www.state.me.us/dep/air/beam/
Maine DEP's Air Toxics web page. Toxic air pollutants are also referred to as air toxics or hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and are defined as those pollutants that are suspected of causing cancer or other serious health effects in humans, or of having serious adverse effects on the environment.
http://www.state.me.us/dep/air/toxics/index.htm
NERAQ Air Quality Related Monitoring and Research in Protected Areas
http://capita.wustl.edu/NEARdat/transflo/NERAQC/NERAQC.htm
Appalachian Mountain Club - Air Quality pages
http://www.outdoors.org/research/airwater/index.shtml
Environmental Defense - Air Pollution Scorecard for your region
http://www.scorecard.org/
