Analysis of NO2 Air Pollution in Urban Versus Rural Locations

Outdoor air concentration of NO2, a critical air pollutant, is regularly monitored by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for human health and the environment. High concentrations of NO2, produced through the burning of fuel, can be harmful to the human respiratory system as well as the environment, being a cause of acid rain and visible haze. To find out if there is a difference in NO2 air pollution concentrations in urban versus rural areas, NO2 air samples were collected and analyzed in several areas of Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut. With the use of Radiello Passive Samplers, air samples were collected over a four-week time span between the months of February and March of 2021. Through analysis of the collected air samples and weather data, a better understanding of NO2 air pollution based on location was achieved.