Our Experiments
Investigation I: The Use of a Spectrophotometer to Evaluate Contaminants in Fire Engines as a Health Risk to Firefighters:
We did this initial experiment to see what our samples might be going through for testing, and data we got from this was surrounded in uncertainty, and this taught us that we needed to use better equipment to test our samples.
Investigation II: The Effect of Contaminants in Rinse Water on Living Organisms:
We put Daphnia Magna (water fleas) into the different waters from rinses after a fire, and some regular water for control. We noticed that the higher the concentration of the contaminants, the quicker the daphnia died, proving that the contaminants were dangerous, and perhaps fatal to life.
Investigation III: Engineering a Strap to Collect Contaminants from Firefighters during Exposure to a Structure Fire:
For this engineering investigation, we designed straps from firefighter gear, that we would soon be testing from fires, and we would try to be seeing what contaminants would get onto firefighter's suits. This engineering feat was successful, and we got the strips distributed to all the fire stations.
Investigation IV: Evaluation of Straps - Exposure to Elements in a Structure Fire:
We took the straps from the previous experiment, gave it to firemen to put onto their gear, and when they came out of the fire, we took the straps back. We then proceeded to test the straps in a portable X-ray fluorescent, and the results showed us that the straps were filled with toxic chemicals, such as Arsenic, Lead, Mercury, Chromium, and Uranium.
Investigation V: Evaluation of Bunker Gear: Contaminants Found During the Washing Process:
This experiment was the last one we did for the project, and it was a good one. This one consisted of us collecting washing water from the firefighter's washes, and these results stunned us. These results showed us that the second wash was much better than the first at getting rid of these contaminants, and how much better the second wash is.
We did this initial experiment to see what our samples might be going through for testing, and data we got from this was surrounded in uncertainty, and this taught us that we needed to use better equipment to test our samples.
Investigation II: The Effect of Contaminants in Rinse Water on Living Organisms:
We put Daphnia Magna (water fleas) into the different waters from rinses after a fire, and some regular water for control. We noticed that the higher the concentration of the contaminants, the quicker the daphnia died, proving that the contaminants were dangerous, and perhaps fatal to life.
Investigation III: Engineering a Strap to Collect Contaminants from Firefighters during Exposure to a Structure Fire:
For this engineering investigation, we designed straps from firefighter gear, that we would soon be testing from fires, and we would try to be seeing what contaminants would get onto firefighter's suits. This engineering feat was successful, and we got the strips distributed to all the fire stations.
Investigation IV: Evaluation of Straps - Exposure to Elements in a Structure Fire:
We took the straps from the previous experiment, gave it to firemen to put onto their gear, and when they came out of the fire, we took the straps back. We then proceeded to test the straps in a portable X-ray fluorescent, and the results showed us that the straps were filled with toxic chemicals, such as Arsenic, Lead, Mercury, Chromium, and Uranium.
Investigation V: Evaluation of Bunker Gear: Contaminants Found During the Washing Process:
This experiment was the last one we did for the project, and it was a good one. This one consisted of us collecting washing water from the firefighter's washes, and these results stunned us. These results showed us that the second wash was much better than the first at getting rid of these contaminants, and how much better the second wash is.