Using the ECO Badge
Purpose
By wearing the ECO Badge, you can get a record of how much ozone you, personally, are exposed to over a period of time. You'll be keeping track of what you were doing while wearing the ECO Badge. Later, as a group you'll be exploring the implications for your health.
Materials
ECO Badge Kit which contains:
ECO Badge holder and snap-on clip
ECO filters
8" x 10" Colormetric chart
vinyl inner pouch
vinyl outer (zip-lock) pouch
Ozone Health Effects and Recommendations Chart
ECO Badge Data Collection Sheets
Ball point pen
Procedure
1. Preparing the ECO Badge
a. Remove the ECO Badge (plastic rectangular filter holder) from the outer pouch.
b. Remove the sheet of ECO Filters from the inner pouch. Separate one filter from the rest of the sheet by tearing along the perforations.
c. Place the sheet of filter papers back in its pouch. Seal the pouch by closing the zipper. With the pouch on a flat surface, leave a small opening in the pouch, and smooth the pouch with your hands to remove the air inside. Then, seal the zipper completely. (It's important for all of the air to be removed from the pouch. This will prevent the unused filters from being exposed to air which might cause a color change in the filters.)
d. Insert the individual filter (removed in step 2) into the slot at the top of the ECO Badge, so that the writing "Eco Filter" is right side up.
e. Insert the plastic strap of the clip through the hole at the top of the badge, and attach using the snap.
2. Collecting data
a. Have one member of your family wear the ECO Badge for one hour (not eight hours). When finished, remove the exposed filter.
b. To determine the exposure level compare the color of the circle at the top of your exposed filter to the colors on the Colormetic chart labelled "1 HR.". Find the color on the chart that matches the color of the filter. If the colors do not match exactly, find the closest match. (In order to fine tune the color match, it might be helpful to fold the circle on the filter in half, and slide the half-circle gradually into the corner of the color block.)
c. Using a ballpoint pen, write the date, time, and exposure level on the filter. Then record the date, time, what you were doing, exposure level, and air quality description on your ECO Badge Data Collection Sheet as well.
d. Use your Ozone Health Effects & Recommendations Chart to find out what health effects might be related to the reading you got about your exposure to ozone and what actions you might take.
e. To store the exposed filter, place it in one of the slots located on each side of the inner pouch.
f. Have other members of your family also wear the badge for one hour and follow the same procedures.