Air Pollution Trends in the United States

Level 3
smokestacks


Air Pollution Trends in the USA data

Background Sheet & Resources

You can also explore this dataset on TUVA, an interactive graphing platform.

Background

Air quality refers to the health and safety of the atmosphere and is determined based on the amount of pollutants in the air. Air pollutants include compounds such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), gaseous lead (Pb), and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10). These compounds make up less than 1% of the atmosphere, yet they are very important to making sure we and our environment are healthy. The average adult breathes over 3,000 gallons of air every day, and it matters what is in the air we breathe.

In this dataset, students can explore how air pollution has changed over time in the USA and in New York.

Data Sampling & Compilation

Data Sources:  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Census Bureau

Prepared by: Lauren Shulman (Eximius College Preparatory Academy) and Michelle Vehlo (Hudson Montessori School)

Register for Data Jam

Deadlines & Dates

November 22 – Early bird registration deadline to be considered for a classroom visit.

January 12 – All registrations due. (All team information will be entered during project submission, not during registration.)

February 8 – Student consent forms due.

February 22 – Project submissions due online by 11:59pm EST.

March 28 – Virtual Data Jam Awards Ceremony & Celebration. All prizes awarded during the event.