Here are a number of links to other Internet resources which contain information and/or other links related to Air Quality. Please read our disclaimer.

Acid Rain

In this interdisciplinary Web research project, junior high students use the Web to research information in the field of a chosen specialist, compile and analyse the data, meet with each other, and then write a report on their findings. The basic questions that they address are: What is acid rain? How does it affect the environment (and us)? Where does it come from?How can it be prevented or minimized? They may choose to be a specialist in chemistry, economics, history, environment, health, or politics/government. Each specialist is given a set of Web links to begin the research.

Acid Rain Program

A comprehensive site from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with information about acid rain. The following list of links to their site are particularly relevant to students.

• Acid Rain: A Student's Sourcebook (A unit on acid rain that has background information, descriptions of the causes and effects of acid rain, solutions about what can be done, and experiments with activities.)
  
• Effects of Acid Rain This page provide more information on how acid rain effects our environment.

Air Junk

Here's an activity for children to make airborne junk collectors and collect air samples. Some background information is also provided.

Air Pollution

A site established for European schools and designed for younger students, it explores the following seven areas of concern for air pollution: Acid Rain, Domestic Smoke, Smog, The Greenhouse Effect, Particulates, Radionuclides, and Ozone Layer Depletion. Included with each page is a link to a glossary for words used while discussing air pollution.

Air Quality

Greater Vancouver Regional District publishes a large collection of information concerning the air quality for Fraser Valley and Vancouver area. The links are identified as particularly important air quality concerns and their principles can be applied to areas in the world.

Air Quality Lesson Plans and Data

The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission provides a number of lessons and activities for educators who wish to teach K-12 students about air quality. Lesson plans are provided on such topics as acid rain, air pressure, ozone, plants, oxygen, and pollution control.

Air Quality Research Branch (Clean Air)

As part of Environment Canada, the menu on this page will link you to air quality information as it is impacted by the following air pollution concerns: acidifying emissions, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), hazardous air pollutants, smog, stratospheric ozone depletion, and climate change. In addition, there is a link with a focus on the Arctic because scientist are finding that the Arctic is the ultimate resting place for many air pollutants.

Automobiles and Light Trucks

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency publishes information about the impact of automobiles and air quality that includes carbon monoxide, ozone, emissions and tips on how you can help to reduce air pollution with your car.

Health and Air Quality - Let's Talk About Air

Educational materials on air quality, indoor air quality, and pollution.

Educational Resources for Students and Teachers

Lesson plans, activities, and fact sheets on air quality from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.

Environmental Priority - Clean Air

A page by Environment Canada that explains what causes air pollution, why we should be concerned and what is being done to protect our air.

It's Your Health

The depletion of our ozone layer has a serious impact on future generations from the dangers of being exposed to the sun's ultraviolet rays (UV rays). The information on this page describes how UV rays can cause sunburn, premature skin aging, cataracts and skin cancer, and even weaken the immune system.

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

Studies have indicated that indoor air pollution can have significant effects on human health. This site investigates a number of the factors causing us to experiences greater exposure to indoor air pollution than in past decades. Many of these factors have to do with construction techniques and materials used in modern buildings. This site presents information on three environments that affect us: l arge buildings, homes and residences, and schools.

[The] Kyoto Protocol: Challenges and Opportunities

Documents in this site explain the historic agreement from December 1997 Kyoto Protocol that commits the developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to acceptable levels. It identifies a number of issues raised by different countries and the reduction conditions Canada agreed to.

Microbiological Contamination of Residential Indoor Air

Here's information about how humid or damp conditions in the home promote the growth of bacteria, mold and dust mites. Also you'll find how these organisms can contribute to poor indoor air quality and how they can cause health problems.

Project A.I.R.E.

A.I.R.E. (Air Information Resources for Educators) was designed as a source of resources for K-12 teachers on air pollution issues. It includes warm-up exercises, lessons, and additional reading information - all saved in PDF format.

Smile Program Biology Index

Teachers participating in the SMILE (Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement) summer session programs each create a single concept lesson plan. This database has a few lessons on air quality in their section on Environmental Studies and Ecology. Caution: Since there is a wide number of authors who have contributed to the database, the detail and quality of the lesson plans will vary.

Smog and Your Health

You can read about how smog has become the term given to the chemical "soup" that is often visible as a brownish yellow haze over urban areas. Formed from motor vehicle and industrial pollution, smog is potentially hazardous to human health by seriously affecting the respiratory system.

Urban Smog

Environment Canada publishes information about what smog is, how to know you are in it, the effect on your health, and what can be done about it. The following link is designed with the younger student in mind.

• Smog: Let's Clear the Air (A page with similar information as the site, but written for students.)

Unified Air Toxics Website: Basic Facts

The basic facts on this page include: What are Toxic Air Pollutants? What are the Effects of Toxic Air Pollutants? Which Pollutants are Considered Toxic? and How are Toxic Pollutants Released into the Atmosphere? In addition, there are links to further information on health risks associated with air pollution.

What's Riding the Wind in Your Community?

Yet another resource from the US Environmental Protection Agency. This is a one week teaching unit for students in Grades 5-8 in which they collect air samples and analyze them.

Workplace Air Quality

Information defining what "Indoor Air Pollution" is and the effects on our health from many of the pollutants that could be in the air. Some of the pollutants listed (along with their effects) include: tobacco smoke, formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds, microorganisms, asbestos, carbon monoxide and more. In addition, there is a checklist to test your environment and what you can do improve your indoor air quality.

Note: The sites listed above will serve as a source of curricular content in the study of Air Quality. For other resources in Social Studies (Environment) (e.g., curricular content in Biomes, Endangered Species, or Hazardous Waste Disposal), or for lesson plans and theme pages, click the "previous screen" button below. Or, click here if you wish to return directly to the CLN menu which will give you access to educational resources in all of our subjects.