During the last few weeks in Ms. Kelly McMahon’s AP Environmental Science class, students have learned about air pollution and specifically the difference between indoor and outdoor air pollution.

Students were given microscope slides covered with Vaseline. One slide was placed inside each student’s home, and one was placed outside. After two days, the students brought the slides back and placed them under a microscope to reveal how much suspended particulate matter was collected on each slide. In most cases, the more dangerous pollutants were found inside the home, and less dangerous, more common pollutants, such as pollen, were found on the slide placed outside.

Senior Abby Burke said, “I found it interesting that the air pollution indoors is more harmful than outdoor air pollution. I didn’t expect that more sicknesses would be caused from pollution indoors than outdoors.”