INTERSCIPLINARY RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Instruction to Participants:
- Discuss with your mentor the planning and implementation issues of your project before completing this form.
- Submit the completed form to your mentor, teacher-advisor, and School-coordinator by 21 Sept 2012.
STUDENT NAME (S)
Low Kai Ferng
Gregory Ler
Trevor Tan
Ang Zhiyong
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SCHOOL/TEAM
SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, SINGAPORE
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MENTOR
Mr Ng Guohui
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PROGRAMME/INSTITUTION
INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH PROPOSAL
TITLE OF PROJECT
An investigation of the effects of sulfur dioxide on the physical and human environment of Singapore.
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PURPOSE OF RESEARCH
(a) For scientific investigations
Our hypothesis is that the effects of sulfur dioxide on the physical and human environment would be harmful as they may contribute to the pollution of the air.
The independent variables are the types of diseases caused by sulfur dioxide and how it affects people.
The dependent variable is the amount of sulfur dioxide produced by the cars, planes and ships.
The constants are the time and location.
(b) For social sciences/exploratory research
It benefits society as people will know why they get air related diseases in Singapore, how to help reduce the number of occurrences of it and how to prevent it from happening to themselves and others around them.
RELEVANCY OF RESEARCH
- Why is your research important?
It benefits society as people will know why they get air related diseases in Singapore, how to help reduce the number of occurrences of it and how to prevent it from happening to themselves and others around them.
- How does it contribute to existing body of knowledge?
It will help us know how much sulfur dioxide a person can inhale before any side effects occur.
- How does your research contribute to/impact the society or community?
It helps the community know that they are being harmed without even knowing it and how to prevent these side effects from taking place.
SCOPE OF RESEARCH
What is sulfur dioxide?
Sulfur dioxide is a colorless gas with a pungent odor. It is a liquid when under pressure and dissolves in water very easily. It cannot catch fire. Sulfur dioxide in the air results from burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil) such as at power plants or from copper smelting. In nature, sulfur dioxide can be released into the air from volcanic eruptions.
What happens to sulfur dioxide when it enters the environment?
In the air, sulfur dioxide can be converted to sulfuric acid, sulfur trioxide, and sulfates. Once dissolved in water, sulfur dioxide can form sulfurous acid. Soil can absorb sulfur dioxide.
How might i be exposed to sulfur dioxide?
We may be exposed to sulfur dioxide mainly by breathing air that contains it or through skin contact with it.
How can sulfur dioxide enter and leave my body?
If you breathe air containing sulfur dioxide, you may absorb it into your body through your nose and lungs. Sulfur dioxide can easily and rapidly enter your bloodstream through your lungs. Once in the body, it breaks down to sulfate and leaves through the urine. Chapter 2 contains further information.
LITERATURE REVIEW
- What are the current research available/ you have come across?
Since sulfur dioxide is primarily present as a gas, the general public is exposed to it mostly by breathing contaminated air. Levels of sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere vary from region to region and are mainly influenced by the intensity of industry and development usually associated with cities. Therefore, children with the highest exposure to sulfur dioxide are those living near industrial sources (i.e., industries that process or burn coal or oil, copper smelting plants, sulfuric acid manufacturers, fertilizer factories, or paper pulp factories). Most of the effects of sulfur dioxide exposure that occur in adults (i.e., difficulty breathing, changes in the ability to breathe as deeply or take in as much air per breath, and burning of the nose and throat) are also of potential concern in children, but it is unknown whether children are more vulnerable to exposure. Children may be exposed to more sulfur dioxide than adults because they breathe more air for their body weight than adults do. Children also exercise more frequently than adults. Exercise increases breathing rate. This increase results in both a greater amount of sulfur dioxide in the lungs and enhanced effects on the lungs. One study suggested that a person’s respiratory health, and not his or her age, determines vulnerability to the effects of breathing sulfur dioxide. This study implies that healthy adolescents (ages 12-17) are no more vulnerable to the effects of breathing sulfur dioxide than healthy senior citizens.
- Summarise the research articles that you have encountered which may be useful to your research
As sulfur dioxide is present as a gas, people are exposed to it mostly by breathing. Levels of sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere vary from region to region and are influenced by the intensity of industry and development usually associated with cities. Children with the highest exposure to sulfur dioxide are those living near industrial sources. Most of the effects of sulfur dioxide exposure that occur in adults (i.e., difficulty breathing and burning of the nose and throat) are also of potential concern in children, but it is unknown whether children are more vulnerable to exposure. They may be exposed to more sulfur dioxide than adults because they breathe more air for their body weight than adults do. Children also exercise more frequently than adults which increases breathing rate. This increase results in both a greater amount of sulfur dioxide in the lungs and enhanced effects on the lungs. One study suggested that a person’s respiratory health determines vulnerability to the effects of breathing sulfur dioxide. It implies that healthy adolescents (ages 12-17) are no more vulnerable to the effects of breathing sulfur dioxide than healthy senior citizens.
METHODOLOGY
Procedures
- How are you going to gather data?
We will use a Serinus 50 Sulfur Dioxide analyzer. It uses UV fluorescent radiation technology to detect Sulfur Dioxide to a sensitivity of 0.4 ppb in the range of 0-20 ppm.It is a machine that can detect the the ppb of sulfur dioxide of in a designated room.
- How are you going to collate data?
We are going to collate the data by using tablets, tables, charts and the raw data.
- How are you going to sift and sort data i.e. which data is important?
We are going to sort the data by the time it was collected and the piece of data which is important is during peak hours and the times before and after school.
Data Analysis
- How are you going to analyse the data?
We will analyse the data by collating and sorting the data that we collect.
- How are you going to present the data?
We are going to present the data in an amount to time graph and tables.
Bibliography1. Provide references to all the
RISK ASSESSMENT
- List/identify the hazardous chemicals, activities, or devices that will be used
Sulfur Dioxide, UV fluorescent radiation technology
- Identify and assess the risks involved.
If we want to check the ppb of the room, you will have to wear mask equipment and put the Serinus 50 Sulfur Dioxide analyzer into the room so that it can check the ppb in the room and analyse it. However, the risks are that if the human is a little to careless, or there is a miscalculation of size of the equipment, he will breathe in the sulfur dioxide and that is the risk.
- Describe the safety precautions and procedures that will be used to reduce the risks.
We are thinking that the air in that lab or room is filled with dangerous gas like sulfur dioxide and so that if it is a too high ppb, the human will die after inhaling.
- List the source(s) of safety information.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/81-123/pdfs/0575.pdfhttp://www.hydroinstruments.com/page.aspx?page_id=79http://treatmentplantsafety.com/Sulfur_Dioxide_Safety.html
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