IMPROVISED CAR EXHAUST FILTER CONTAINING CRUSHED MUSSELS:

AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION TO REDUCE AIR POLLUTION

A Research Proposal

Presented to

To the Faculty of Senior High School Department

University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue Campus

Cebu City, Philippines

In Partial Fulfillment of

the Requirements for the Subject

Practical Research 2

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Strand

Researchers:

RICH ANTONVINCE Q. CARTUCIANO

EMIL JAN MEJIAS

Ms. Mary Celky N. Espinosa

Adviser

ST12A7
 Chapter I
THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETING

The Rationale

The worldwide problem of air pollution has continued to grow at a very

alarming rate due to uncontrolled sources. Planes, vehicles, and trains had

increased their exhaust levels, thus making the air quality worse. Industrial

facilities, power plants, oil refineries did not stop at producing toxic air pollutants,

such as methylene chloride, hydrogen chloride, and toluene. With this, air

pollution has not only infiltrated the urban areas, but rural communities as well.

According to a new study, around 92% of the world’s human population are

exposed to air pollution levels that exceed the “safe” limits set by the World

Health Organization (WHO). Aside from its impact to the global climate change,

polluted air also has contributed to health risks like asthma. According to NASA

Climate Kids (2019), air pollution is caused by solid and liquid particles and

certain gases that are suspended in the atmosphere. These particulates and

gases can come from car and truck exhaust, factories, dust, pollen, mold spores,

volcanoes, and wildfires. These aerosols, when not controlled from suspending in

the air, can harm humans and animals and can cause various respiratory and

cardiovascular diseases.

According to World Health Organization (2016), 91% of the world’s

population lives in places where air quality exceeds the WHO guideline limits. It
also stated that there are 4.2 million deaths per year as a result of exposure to

outdoor air pollution. Air pollution is something we must be aware of.

According to Khevin Yu (2018), the good ranking of Philippine cities in the

2018 World Air Report is not a cause of celebration since there is a lack of air

monitoring systems in the country. Eleven of the cities in Southeast Asia with the

cleanest air are in the Philippines, according to the report of the Switzerland-

based IQ AirVisual and Greenpeace.

In fact, the report highlights the urgent need for more comprehensive,

governmental, real-time monitoring networks for the public to fully understand the

state of quality of the Philippines. (Khevin Yu, 2018)

Reducing air pollutants in the air is a necessity for human health and the

environment. Poor air quality has harmful effects on the human health,

particularly the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Good urban design and

planning can also help reduce the pollution by minimizing the emissions of the

harmful substances of car exhausts.

As the researchers, the main objective of this study is to help reduce air

pollution using an improvised car exhaust filter. An improvised car exhaust filter

is in a form of a honeycomb substrate for cars. The filter contains crushed

mussels which contains calcium carbonate that can absorb harmful compounds

found in car smoke like benzene from its surface.

The main purpose of this study is to help not just the people but also the

planet to reduce the polluted air containing harmful substances, thus increasing
the life expectancy not just for humans, but also animals as well. Air pollution,

though may be a difficult issue to solve, but can be resolved if everyone of us will

make a move to minimize it.

The researcher will conduct this research with all the STEM Student

participants at the grounds of Annex 2 building of University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu

and Mandaue.
 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The main purpose of this study is to reduce the polluted air containing

harmful substances and how can this be minimized in the community of

University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue year 2019 – 2020.

Specifically, this study aims to answer the following questions:

1. What is the demographic background of the cars in the University of Cebu

Lapu-lapu and Mandaue Campus in terms of:

1.1 size

1.2 type of engine

1.3 power rating

1.4 type of fuel used

2. What is the mean difference and relationship of the following:

2.1 size and power rating

2.2 size and type of engine

2.3 type of engine and power rating

2.4 type of engine and type of fuel used

3. What are the effects of having a bad air quality towards the human

physiology

4. Based on the findings, what other human intervention program/s could be

adapted to minimize the air pollution and improve the air quality
 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study emphasizes the importance of being able to use a simple technology

to reduce the air pollution with a tool. As the number of people who owns cars

increases, it is appropriate for people to initiate and innovate something out of

trash that can help reduce air pollution. Aside from saving the nature, it also

helps in saving the world as well. The success of this study will be beneficial to

the following:

School.

The result of the study will benefit nature itself. It can help to restore the

climate on how it was supposed to be before, cooler climate with a

good air quality.

Community.

The result of the study will benefit the people in the community by being

able prevent various respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. It

also gives people the chance to experience cooler climate with a

good air quality and lesser air pollution.

Future Researchers.

The result of the study will benefit future researchers by being able to use

the study as a related topic, enhance the idea and a reference in

reducing air pollution.

Definition of Terms

Air pollutant – any substance in high concentration that could harm

animals, humans, vegetation, and/or materials.

Benzene – a widely used industrial chemical that is found in gasoline that

contributes in air pollution.

Car exhaust filter – a tool being attached to the car exhaust pipes that

captures particulate matter that can help in reducing air pollution

Hydrogen chloride – a solvent used in cleaning, electroplating metals,

and tanning leather and has contributed largely to air pollution through

burning plastics

Methylene chloride – a solvent used in variety of products like in paint

strippers and has contributed largely to the air pollution

Toluene – a solvent, like the hydrogen chloride, has various uses and has

contributed to air pollution