THE ODD APPEARANCE OF THE QUALITY OF LIGHT TODAY
(IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY VISIBLE SMOG LAYER OR HAZE)
PROMPTED ME TO TRY TO FIND INFO ABOUT
CURRENT AIR QUALITY MEASUREMENTS...
Here are my notes:
1. San Francisco Bay Area > Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) >
Data Display (current readings/ hourly readings) |>>
http://gate1.baaqmd.gov/aqmet/aq.aspx
~ shows OZONE readings, in parts-per-billion.
(= http://gate1.baaqmd.gov/aqmet/AQ.aspx ; "AQ" = 'Air Quality')
~ Example:
___ 'San Jose Central' :>>
http://gate1.baaqmd.gov/aqmet/AQSiteView.aspx?SID=7032
~ Negatives: >> doesn't specify details like at what level readings
are taken (ground-level/ atmosphere / top of buildings / ?),
>> DOESN'T DEFINE TERMS (e.g. do _you_ know what an Aetholometer is ? [*see footnote]
-----------------------------
<h2>
2. AIR NOW nationwide reports (recommended*)
</h2>
~ Example: Current Air Quality Index for SF Bay Area / San Jose:
http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.local_city&cityid=318
* (!) _ The AIRNOW website showed the 'level 2' conditions/advisory
(AQI # 61 for 'Particles/ Particulate matter' ) today when the
" San Francisco Bay Area (BAAQMD) Air Monitoring Network:"
did not. (because BAAQMD only shows ozone measurements)
[per EPA website]:
Q: " Are Ozone Generators Effective in Controlling Indoor Air Pollution?"
A: "Available scientific evidence shows that at concentrations that do
not exceed public health standards, ozone has little potential to
remove indoor air contaminants [and may be more harmful than helpful]"
>> "Ozone Generators that are Sold as Air Cleaners" |>>
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html ]
(page also includes: ' What is ozone? ' ; ' How is ozone harmful? ' ;
' Is There Such a Thing as "Good Ozone" and "Bad Ozone"? '; etc. / et alia. )
---
*Per [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone]:
"...[ozone generators] produce nitrogen oxides [a.k.a. : 'oxides of
nitrogen'; 'nitric acid' ; (on 'smog tests') 'NO' ] as a by-product.
Use of an air dryer can reduce or eliminate nitric acid formation by
removing water vapor ..."
I.E. OZONE + WATER : generates NO
"... Use of an oxygen concentrator can further increase the ozone
production and further reduce the risk of nitric acid formation by
removing not only the water vapor, but also the bulk of the nitrogen."
<h2> Nitrogen in the Air </h2>
Information about 'NO' / 'NOx' (esp. as it relates to Smog, etc.) [EPA
website] |>>
_" Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is one of a group of highly reactive gasses
known as "oxides of nitrogen," or "nitrogen oxides (NOx)."
Other _nitrogen oxides_ [NOx] include _nitrous acid_ and _nitric acid_. ...
While [the] EPA's 'National Ambient Air Quality Standard' covers this
entire group of NOx,
NO2 [nitrogen di-oxide] is the component of greatest interest, and the
indicator for the larger group of nitrogen oxides.
NO2 forms quickly from emissions from cars... In addition to
contributing to the formation of _ground-level ozone_, and fine
particle pollution, NO2 is linked with a number of adverse effects on
the respiratory system. ..."
[more | http://www.epa.gov/air/nitrogenoxides/ ]
<br>
"Road Surface Purifies Air by Removing Nitrogen Oxides, Researchers in
the Netherlands Find"
Dateline: July 2010
>> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100706082058.htm
" The air‑purifying concrete contains titanium dioxide, a
photocatalytic material that removes the nitrogen oxides from the air
and converts them with the aid of sunlight into harmless nitrate. "
<br>
[http://www.google.com/search?q=titanium+dioxide |>> results from
Google Shopping:
$18 w/ shipping:
http://www.organic-creations.com/servlet/the-936/titanium-dioxide-natural-cosmetic/Detail
; $16 ($16.19 with tax and shipping):
http://www.camdengrey.com/essential-oils/Raw-Materials-Salts-Sugars-Powders/titanium-dioxide.html?attribute=weight&value=1_lb
]
<br>
--- <br>
"Growth and Nitrogen-absorbing Activity of Crotalaria juncea under
Application of Excess Nitrogen." |>>
http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/199918/000019991899A0600204.php
>> >> Tree/plant species detail for Crotalaria juncea (a.k.a. C. Juncea; Crotalaria juncea L.), see :
http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/sea/Products/AFDbases/af/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=618
~~~
respiratory: condensed oxygen:
"... the simplest <b> oxygen concentrator </b> is capable of
continuous delivery of oxygen using two cylinders, each filled with a
zeolite material which selectively adsorbs the nitrogen in the air.
..."
[in therapy :] " .. Oxygen has vasoconstrictive effects on the
circulatory system > [which] reduces peripheral circulation ... ...
when additional oxygen is given to a patient, additional oxygen is
dissolved in the blood ('plasma') ... but... dissolved oxygen in
plasma supports oxygen-starved ("embarrassed") neurons... reduces
inflammation and post-stroke cerebral edema ...
~~~
<h3>
Related
</h3>
1. FAQ at AirNow.gov |>>
http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=faqs.index
2. Soil (not Air) Nitrogen (N) and Plants : (Q: "What Does Nitrogen Do
for Plants?") |>>
http://www.ehow.com/about_4608777_what-does-nitrogen-do-plants.html
3. [US EPA:] " Ozone Science: The Facts Behind the Phaseout" |>>
http://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/sc_fact.html
~~
Keywords : nitrogen absorbing ;
Searches : "Ozone breaks down to oxygen quickly in water" ;
"electrostatic precipitators?" ;
(spelling: respratory ; condenced oxigen ; ...)
~~
[*footnote]: 'What is an Aetholometer?'
... Tony Hansen --at Berkley Labs-- ** designed a device called an
aetholometer **
that could, for the first time, make real-time measurements of the
vertical distribution of
***soot particles cast up into the atmosphere by the burning of coal and oil**."
[from the Berkley Labs page @
http://www.lbl.gov/Publications/75th/files/04-lab-history-pt-6.html ]
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