Is This a Solution to Smog?

A 2014 study, by a non-profit called Berkeley Earth, estimated that more than 1.6 million people die per year in China from air pollution. Below are maps of eastern China that they created by collecting data on air pollution over 4 months:

NGSS Phenomena: 3 maps that show very unhealthy of PM2.5, moderate levels of PM10, and good levels of 03 ozone in an area of China around Beijing.

This map shows concentrations of PM2.5 (very small particles of pollution), PM10 (small particles of pollution) and 03 (ozone, a gas created when pollution reacts with sunlight). All of these particles are known to be bad for lung health.

Rohde, R.A.; Muller, R.A. Air pollution in China: Mapping of concentrations and sources. PLoS ONE 2015, 10, e0135749.

Two photos taken in the same location in Beijing, China in August 2005. The photograph on the left was taken after it had rained for two days. The right photograph shows smog covering Beijing in what would otherwise be a sunny day.

Bobak, Wikipedia

NGSS Phenomena: A Smog Free Tower in the middle of a field, opening up from the sides.

The Dutch designer Daan Roosegaarde has created the “world’s largest vacuum” to help reduce the pollution in the air and one of the first towers was installed in Beijing, China. The people running the project haven’t disclosed the price of building the tower or the cost of the filters it uses, but the fundraiser for the first tower was set to raise $52,000. This tower uses a very small amount of electricity to positively charge the air around it. These positive charges attach to pollution particles and the particles are pulled into the filters on the tower.

NGSS Phenomena: The air within 2 meters of the tower has particulate matter reduced by 60%. As you move 10 meters farther away from the tower, the air has a reduction of around 30% of particulate matter.

This image shows the reduction in PM2.5 in the air, up to a distance of 30 ft from the Smog Free Tower. According to one study testing the tower, it captures and removes up to 70% of the PM10 that people would breathe in and up to 50% of the PM2.5.

1. What is the problem being solved by this solution?

Around the world, air pollution is being worsened by the growing industry of China.
In China, people are dying at an alarming rate and scientists are looking for ways to save these lives.
In China, the air pollution is so bad that one study claims it’s leading to millions of deaths per year.
One research study showed that air pollution in China is bad, but scientists are trying to test how quickly it’s becoming unhealthy.

2. Discuss how air pollution affects the biodiversity of an ecosystem. Then, evaluate the effectiveness of the Smog Free Tower by discussing two strengths and two weaknesses of the design. Lastly, explain whether or not this smog free technology would be beneficial in every city or town.

3. If towers like this are being built in the city, what design constraints would you expect to run into in that environment?

4. Which of the following is a tradeoff of the world’s largest vacuum?

it can only filter 96% of all particles in the air, with very small particles not being filtered
it can draw pollutants from up to 4 miles above it, and up to half a mile around it
it’s installation costs in addition to maintenance costs being comparable
it uses a small amount of electricity to draw pollution from the air

5. Why is the problem bad for the ecosystem and what data shows that this design solution will help?

6. If you wanted to evaluate how well the Smog Free Tower worked in Beijing, what other information would you need?

7. If towers like this are being built in the city, choose 3 design criteria that would be important for this solution or others in that environment.

8. How well will the Smog Free Tower maintain healthy air levels in Beijing?

9. What are two strengths and two weaknesses of the Smog Free Tower as a solution to smog in Beijing?

10. What problems or side effects might come from the Smog Free Tower?