1. Dirty Dancing Northwest Ballet vs. Dance Elements Research Question
Danika Tintzman, Elise Sabin, and Kathryn Rossi
Mr Spangler, WHS
Research Question
How does the air quality between two different dance studios, Northwest Ballet and Dance Elements, compare?
To do this, we measured the Air Quality at both studios for as close to 24 hours as we could get. We then compared the graphs and important points such as minimum, maximum, and average, to come to some sort of conclusion. Through this we also anticipated to learn about the trends within the dance studio’s individual air quality.
Dirty Dancing
Northwest Ballet vs. Dance Elements
Background Information
We are interested in this because we are concerned about air quality in the places that we dance. The specific type of particulate matter that the DustTrak 8520 measures are PM 2.5. PM 2.5 particles are small particles that can create haze and can be harmful to health.. The main sources of PM 2.5 are road dust, vehicle exhaust, slash burning, and sometimes pets can release particulate matter into the air. The “2.5” in PM 2.5 represents the size of the particles, 2.5 um. To put this in perspective one human hair is 60 um. The EPA 24 hour limit for PM 2.5 is 35.0 (ug/m^3) the annual standard is 12.0 (ug/m^3). PM 2.5 particles can cause lung and heart disease; it can also cause irritation of the nose and throat or asthma. We spend around 90% of our time indoors so it is critical that we have good air quality in the places we spend our time.
Northwest Ballet Company
Hypothesis
We believe that when addressing this data alone, there will be an obvious trend of a spike in the PM 2.5 level during class hours, which are from 5:00pm- 9:00pm.
Methods
To test this, the machine was plugged in before taking Northwest Ballet class, at 6:32 pm, 2/12/19, and then unplugged as close to 6:32pm as possible the following day. This ended up being at 4:46pm. This was our attempt at a control of 24 hours. Our other controls were setting the machine slightly elevated near the wall as seen in the photos below, using the most used dance studio within the building, and starting the tracking during peak class hours.
Graph
Pictures
Results
Much like anticipated, the data was at its highest in the hours of 6:00-8:00pm, when classes were in full swing. In the middle of the night and early day, the data bottomed out, then began to rise again nearing class hours before being unplugged.
Combined Results
Hypothesis
We believe that the Air PM 2.5 level from Dance elements will be generally higher than the PM 2.5 levels at Northwest Ballet.
We think this is because, within a day, three times as many people take classes in Dance Elements, and there are more classes overall. We also believe that the number of props in the Dance Elements studio at the time of testing could have made an impact on the results.
Graph Pictures
These pictures are meant to show the average class size at each studio.
Dance Elements
Hypothesis
We believe that when addressing this data alone, there will be an obvious trend of a spike in the PM 2.5 levels during class hours, which are from 4:00pm- 10:00pm.
Methods
To test this, the machine was plugged in on the right side of the room at 6:56 pm, 2/11/19, before classes started at 7:00 pm. It was left running throughout the entire night of classes, and left overnight throughout cleaning. It was then turned off and picked up at 6:00 pm the next day. This was our attempt at a control of 24 hours. Our other controls were setting the machine slightly elevated near the wall seen in the pictures below, using the most used dance studio within the building, and starting the tracking during peak class hours.
Graph
Pictures
Results
The aerosol level started really high because it was plugged in during class hours (about 6:30 pm). It got its highest around 7:30 pm. Overnight it stayed at a consistently low, and then began to spike again around 4:00 pm when classes started the next day.
Combined Methods
The controls for this experiment were stated within the individual method sections. The independent variable was the different dance studios which were measured. The dependent variable was the resulting air quality that came from each dance studio.
Analysis/Conclusion
Our hypothesis ended up being correct. We believe that because Dance Elements has more people and more classes, they tested higher for particulate matter. During the highest peak, the air quality went over the healthy amount of .023 ppm,but for the most part, stayed well under. Other things that could have impacted the elevated Dance Elements levels would be the presence of freshly drilled wood props. Our data suggests that the amount of people and the intensity of movement directly affects the air quality in a room.
The overall trends of both studios followed very similar patterns, they spiked during the most packed classes leveled out in between, reached and all time low during the night and early morning, and then started climbing as classes picked up in the afternoon. Dance Elements’ results were far more dramatic, however, they consistently stayed at a higher level than Northwest Ballet’s and the spikes were far more extreme. Looking at the bigger picture, this data suggests that rooms with more people may have higher ppm-worse air quality.
Results
Dance Elements Northwest Ballet
Start Date: 2/11/ Start Date: 2/12/19
Start Time: 6:56 pm Start Time: 6:32 pm
End Date: 2/12/ End Date: 2/13/19
End Time: 6:00 pm End Time: 4:46 pm
Max: .049 mg/m^ Max: .023 mg/m^3
Min: .009 mg/m^ Min: .003 mg/m^3
Improvements
To improve this project it would be helpful to make our data collection process more streamlined to get more accurate results. Setting up the meter at the same time of day, running it for the same amount of time, and taking it down at the same time probably would have yielded better data. It would be nice if we could have measured the two studios on the same day just to eliminate as many other variables as possible. Our original plan was to compare three different studios but the third one didn’t happen so that would be a huge improvement to the study.
Sources
-Arriaga, Amy. “DanceElementsMT | Instructors.” Dance Elements | Kalispell, MT, 2018,
-Loria, Keith. “Save Money and the Environment: How to Make Your Studio Eco-Friendly.” Dance Teacher, Dance Teacher, 20 July 2017,
-Roth, Marisa. “Welcome to the Northwest Ballet Company.” Welcome to the Northwest Ballet Company, 2016,
-“Volatile Organic Compounds' Impact on Indoor Air Quality.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 6 Nov. 2017,