Research Proposal

PURPOSE OF RESEARCH

(a) For scientific investigations

Our hypothesis is that the effects of sulfur dioxide on the physical and ecological 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 plants.

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 their plants get air related diseases and die 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

1. Why is your research important?

Every year, more and more plants die. Therefore we are trying to help them by trying to find the cause of their sickness to see if the sulfur dioxide affects them. If it does, we will find ways to help them.

2. How does it contribute to existing body of knowledge?

It will help us know how much sulfur dioxide will cause negative effects on some plants, reducing its population.

3. How does your research contribute to/impact the society or community? 
4. To protect the plants from the harmful effects of toxic chemicals and to find ways to treat them as plants play an important part in our lives.

LITERATURE REVIEW

1. 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 varies 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.

2. 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

1. 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 ppb of sulfur dioxide of in a designated room.

2. How are you going to collate data?

We are going to collate by using tables and the data

3. 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

1. How are you going to analyse the data?
2. How are you going to present the data?

Bibliography
1. Provide references to all the
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp116.pdf
http://www.serinus-gas-analyzer.com/index.php/technical-information/sulfur-dioxide-so2-measurement

RISK ASSESSMENT

1. List/identify the hazardous chemicals, activities, or devices that will be used

Sulfur Dioxide, UV fluorescent radiation technology

1. 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.

1. 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 it.

1. List the source(s) of safety information.

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/81-123/pdfs/0575.pdf
http://www.hydroinstruments.com/page.aspx?page_id=79
http://treatmentplantsafety.com/Sulfur_Dioxide_Safety.html

Generate questions

Generate questions on this subject ( Air pollution - One of Singapore's major pollutants is Sulfur Dioxide) (where it can be found is in the mind map)

Table of what we learnt in Semester 1

IRS Mindmap

Task 2 Question 4

In your opinion, what are the roles and responsibilities for the Leader, Blog Manager, Schedule Manager and Rublic Relations Manager? Why?

Task 2 Question 3

What you want to learn in IRS this semester.....

Task 2 Question 2

Why do you think research is important in our studies?

Task 2 Question 1

What is research to you?