PM & Health Impacts
Students investigate the health effects of particulate matter, from asthma and allergies to cardiovascular impacts, while examining health disparities and environmental justice.
5
Lessons
5
Class Periods
Low
Materials Cost
3
NGSS Standards
Essential Question
How does air quality affect human health, and why are some communities more impacted than others?
Lessons
-
1→The Burden of Bad Air
-
2→Asthma and Allergies
-
3→Beyond the Lungs
-
4→Environmental Justice
-
5→Taking Action
Key Concepts
Health Statistics
- Air pollution: #4 global mortality risk
- ~7 million deaths/year worldwide
- ~25 million Americans have asthma
- Children especially vulnerable
Respiratory Effects
- Asthma attacks and worsening
- Allergic reactions
- Reduced lung development
- Increased infections
Systemic Effects
- Heart attacks and stroke
- High blood pressure
- Cognitive effects
- Diabetes risk
Environmental Justice
- Unequal pollution exposure
- Low-income communities affected more
- Historical housing/zoning policies
- Access to clean air solutions
Standards Alignment
| Standard | Description |
|---|---|
| MS-LS1-3 | Use argument supported by evidence for how the body is a system of interacting subsystems |
| MS-LS1-8 | Gather and synthesize information on how sensory receptors respond to stimuli |
| MS-ESS3-3 | Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring human impact |
| 7.SP.A.2 | Use data from a random sample to draw inferences about a population |