Urbanization Effect on Carbon Dioxide Levels

By Jacquelyn Robles

Air pollution is when chemicals and physical or biological agents that impact or
modify the natural components of the atmosphere are released (WHO 2017). Common sources
that pollute the environment are motor vehicles, house combustion devices, industrial facilities
and forest fires. The common chemicals that are major public health concern are carbon dioxide,
sulfur dioxide, Ozone and nitrogen dioxide. These indoor and outdoor chemicals may cause
respiratory problems that lead to asthma (History 2009).
Urbanization have huge impact on the environment due to dense populations and human
activities. Heavy concentrated energy gives a threat to the environment by constantly polluting
the air with the chemical that are released by industrial location. Carbon Dioxide levels would be
at its highest around areas like the city of Downtown, where there's the most human and machine
activity. Therefore, Carbon Dioxide levels would be different in locations farther away inland
with denser populations and less human activity that doesnt create a high constant Carbon
Dioxide emission.
The mission is to find how urbanization affect the carbon dioxide levels. Based on the
results of the air quality, it will be determined which locations are most impacted by pollution.
This will also help us determine what humans are regularly exposed to in these locations based
on C02 levels. It is important to know if human health and the environment is at risk from these
pollutants. The information from the results can be shared to communities in those particular
location and to our client. I predict that there will be higher C02 Levels near Downtown and the
airport, most likely in locations with higher industrial activity and denser populations.
 Urbanization Effects on Carbon Dioxide Levels
By Jacquelyn

Figure 1: Findings represented with levels of carbon dioxide in locations around San Diego
County.

This study shows data collected from a meter measuring the parts per million [ppm] of
carbon dioxide within air from different locations around San Diego. The data was taken from
three readings taken during a fifteen minute duration at five minute intervals during the month of
November. The data is represented in whole numbers in each location represented in Figure 1.
Data has been analyzed using the median as extreme outliers were found in the dataset.
In Barrio Logan the carbon dioxide levels tested up to 2,800 parts per billion. This is a
significant amount differentiating to the 420 ppm detected along the San Diego Bay.
La jolla tested up to 505 part per billion, it shows that there's less carbon dioxide levels in
areas surrounded more by nature [coastal areas] rather than areas surrounded by heavy carbon
dioxide producers. Locations such as the neighborhood in Barrio Logan is surrounded by
freeways and a nearby shipyard.
In conclusion, according to the data, locations with a dense population and higher
machine and human activity have higher Co2 levels.
As where coastal areas that have low human activity, and are also filtered by nature, have
less Co2 levels.
 Discussion
By: Jacquelyn Robles

The purpose for our experiment is to test carbon dioxide levels in locations in San Diego
County with varying levels of urbanization. The data will help us determine the effects of
urbanization on the air quality to compare our results. I predicted that there would be the highest
carbon dioxide levels in areas with dense populations and higher human activity. According to
our findings, urbanization does play a huge role in emitting carbon dioxide.

Densely populated areas impact carbon dioxide levels. Evidence to this can be shown in
our data from locations with major co2 producers versus data from locations that are less dense
but surrounded by more nature, such as areas along the coast. Barrio Logan was detected with
the highest carbon dioxide levels compared to the other locations along the coast. The reason
being that the neighborhood of Barrio Logan is surrounded by the Nassco Shipyards and the
system of freeways, being the two most major Co2 producers. According to San Diego Union
Tribune, the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company known as the General Dynamics
NASSCO shipyard in Barrio logan emits hexavalent chromium from welding. The cancer risk
for those most exposed is calculated at 21.2 cases in a million. This further supports the idea of
our findings since we now know which is one of the most impacted places in San Diego County.

There are two potential errors identified during our research. The first is the impact of
weather on our readings such as heavy wind currents that can eliminate much of the emissions.
The second potential error could have been due to one of the researchers breathing into the Co2
meter, thus interfering with the data. For future experiments more research and trials too get a
good set of data instead of only one time. It's important to know what locations have the highest
c02 levels too know how it can impact the environment and health. For the next research
experiment the group would have to be together to conduct the study in order too supervise and
make sure to follow through with research methods.

References :
Smith, Joshua Emerson. Toxic air pollution reports. The San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego
Union, 25 Jan. 2017, www.sandiegounion-tribune.org.
 Methodology
Group Names: Lauren, Destiny, Jacquelyn, Grace
a.) Independent Variable
The independent variable, is the different locations around San Diego County. The
different locations being tested will be divided loosely into two categories, one being man-made
locations: Industrial, commercial and dense residents, and the other category being coastal
locations. For the coastal categories the locations will be Tijuana River Estuary, Coronado,
Ocean Beach and La Jolla shores. For the urban areas the locations will be Downtown, National
City, Barrio Logan and San Diego International Airport, .

b.) Dependent Variable

The dependent variable is the levels of Carbon Dioxide in the outside air. The CO2 meter
will give results in the form of parts per million. The CO2 levels were selected because they are
often produced by man made machinery such as deforestation, cement production, or burning of
coal, natural gases and oil. By testing the more urban vs the natural areas the results should show
the effect humans have on air quality.

c.) Control Variable

Testing the different locations multiple different days of the week will show if humans
produce more CO2 on a certain day of the week which would potentially change the date.
Averaging out the results from testing the same location one the same day multiple times so that
if the machine messes up there will be other data to work with. Lastly testing different locations
within the same site will make sure that one specific area wasnt the reason it was particularly
bad or good.

d.) Confounding Variable

The confounding variables are the weather (including wind, fire weather or recent rain),
human activity, and different areas in the same location. Fire weather is a problem because some
trees that burned release carbon which may affect our data.

e.) Sample Size

The sample size for this experiment will be 8 locations. Each site will have multiple tests
from two different areas around the location.

f.) Materials
Autopilot Desktop CO2 Monitor & Data Logger
Clipboard
Paper
 Pen
Timer with time
Camera
Map with present location
Charging pack

g.) Primary Research Method

1. Go to designated location
2. Pick an area not directly next to a car (street corner, up against a building, etc.) *stay
consistent*
3. Plug CO2 mini into a computer using a USB cable
4. Wait 5 minutes during this time record information about date, weather and time
5. Readings will appear (make sure to not breathe near the recorder as this may interfere
with results)
6. Record data on table
7. Repeat after waiting 5 minutes for a total of three times per site (six tests total per
location)
3). Data Collection

Site One: Description of Location:

Reading 1: Human Activity:

Reading 2: Weather:

Reading 3: Day/Time Began and Ended: