Consider This 1.2 Visit the EPA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maintains an extensive Web site. In particular, the EPA's Office of Air and Radiation contains many consumer-friendly documents on air quality. Select a document and report its title, URL, and several interesting things that you learned.

Consider This 1.6 Los Angeles, Boston, or Houston?
You can use the AirData Web site of the EPA to look up air quality data similar to that shown in Table 1.4. At the site:

1. Look under the map. Find the radial button "Select MSA" and click on it. MSA stands for Metropolitan Statistical Area and use the pull-down menu to make your choice. Click GO.
2. You now come to a screen when you can add/subtract counties. Click on "Select Counties."
3. Now select your report. You want "Air Quality Index" under the Monitoring column.
4. Select a year, select the summary type as "MSA," and click on the "Generate Report."

Examine the data in the column "Number of Days." Does the city you selected have, on average, better or worse air quality than Houston ?

Consider This 1.14 Adopt an Element
Periodic tables on the Web list the properties of elements, their date of discovery, their naturally occurring isotopes, and much more. Thus, the Web can give you quick access to information that might take you hours to find using reference books. Here are links to several popular periodic tables; search for others if you wish.
Web Elements™ Periodic Table (scholar edition)
Chemicool Periodic Table
The Wooden Periodic Table

Use these to find out what year your element was discovered; whether it occurs naturally as a solid, liquid, or gas; its appearance; where it is found; and any two other facts, such as toxicity, cost, uses, and so on. Following the directions given by your instructor, get together with other students to see the trends.

PS – If your computer is equipped to hear (and watch) Tom Lehrer's song, "The Elements," you can enjoy it here.

Your Turn 1.26 Other Tailpipes
What about the exhaust from engines on gasoline-powered lawn mowers and on boats? At the EPA Web page Nonroad Engines, Equipment and Vehicles, look up a source of interest. Summarize your findings and be sure to cite your sources.

Consider This 1.30 Ozone Maps
Ozone levels are reported for almost all parts of the United States. The EPA provides a wealth of air quality data and ozone maps at AirNow. Select a city or state to learn how the ozone levels vary over the ozone season. Summarize your findings.”

Consider This 1.32 Radon Testing
As a public service, local and national agencies provide information about radon on the Web.
a. Find two Web sites about radon provided by government agencies. Cite the source and the URL for each. You might find it helpful to use the keywords radon detection, air quality, and EPA in your search.
b. Find a company on the Web that sells radon test kits. Describe the kit, including its price.
c. Compare the dangers of radon described on your Web sites from parts a. and b. Is commercial information about radon different from that provided as a public service? If so, report the differences and suggest reasons why.