Background: Per-Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are known as “forever chemicals” because of their persistence in the environment. The C-F bonds in the compound result in very long breakdown times because of low reactivity, and thus have very high bioaccumulation. PFAS are Continue reading
As Americans we drive in cars. We use electricity for our houses and cell phones. And we burn fossil fuels to power these processes. The average American releases more carbon into the atmosphere per capita than any other country in Continue reading
The stuff in our trash is taken and thrown in landfills. In those landfills our trash is sitting around and breaking apart into different little pieces. In these tiny pieces are a special group of chemicals made up of carbon, Continue reading
What are PFAS? Per-fluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, are commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” (Hersher). PFAS acquired this term due to their ability to remain in the environment for decades. PFAS pose a threat to the environment due Continue reading
Introduction The small organisms that live at the bottom of the marine life food chain, phytoplankton, are more important than we think. Their main purpose involves absorbing CO2 from our atmosphere and using it as a nutrient to promote growth Continue reading
Introduction: Over the past five weeks, my team and I conducted research on pollutants in local San Diego waterways. More specifically, we were testing for the concentrations of PFAS molecules in the sediments (basically dirt that is underwater). PFAS stands Continue reading
Introduction Phytoplankton are components of the plankton community and an integral part of ocean and freshwater ecosystems. They provide over 50% of our annual oxygen supply. Not only that, they also provide the foundation for marine life. They are the Continue reading
Over the past month, my team and I conducted research on the amount of air pollution produced by both cigarettes and cigarillos, a type of cigar. Specifically, we aimed to test the amount of PM 2.5 produced. PM stands for Continue reading
Have you ever wondered what you breathe while taking a walk or the beach or driving on a freeway? The answer is particulate matter (PM). By definition, PM is an aggregate of all hazardous particles- solid, liquid, or gas- suspended Continue reading
Significance of Particulate Matter Particulate matter, or PM, is defined as particles in our atmosphere that are small enough to be inhaled. Our project centers around two types of PM: PM 2.5 and PM 10. Both PM 2.5 and PM Continue reading
