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particulate matter, or biological materials that emissions from this power plant in New Mexico
cause harm or discomfort to humans or other contained excessive amounts of sulfur dioxide.
living organisms, or damages the natural
environment, into the atmosphere.
Scrubbers
o Baffle spray scrubber
o Cyclonic spray scrubber
o Ejector venturi scrubber
o Mechanically aided scrubber
o Spray tower
o Wet scrubber
NOx control
o Low NOx burners
o Selective catalytic reduction (SCR)
o Selective non-catalytic reduction
(SNCR) Smog in Cairo
o NOx scrubbers
o Exhaust gas recirculation
In general, there are two types of air quality
o Catalytic converter (also for VOC
standards. The first class of standards (such as the
control) U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards) set
maximum atmospheric concentrations for specific
VOC abatement pollutants. Environmental agencies enact
o Adsorption systems, such as regulations which are intended to result in
activated carbon attainment of these target levels. The second class
o Flares
(such as the North American Air Quality Index)
o Thermal oxidizers
take the form of a scale with various thresholds,
o Catalytic oxidizers
which is used to communicate to the public the
o Biofilters
relative risk of outdoor activity. The scale may or
o Absorption (scrubbing)
may not distinguish between different pollutants.
o Cryogenic condensers
o Vapor recovery systems
Canada
Acid Gas/SO2 control
In Canada, air quality is typically evaluated
o Wet scrubbers
against standards set by the Canadian Council of
o Dry scrubbers
Ministers of the Environment (CCME), an inter-
o Flue gas desulfurization
governmental body of federal, provincial and
territorial Ministers responsible for the
Mercury control
environment. The CCME has set Canada Wide
o Sorbent Injection Technology
Standards(CWS).[29][30] These are:
o Electro-Catalytic Oxidation (ECO)
o K-Fuel
CWS for PM2.5 = 30 µg/m3 (24 hour
averaging time, by year 2010, based on
Dioxin and furan control
98th percentile ambient measurement
annually, averaged over 3 consecutive
Miscellaneous associated equipment
years).
o Source capturing systems
o Continuous emissions monitoring
CWS for ozone = 65 ppb (8-hour
systems (CEMS)
averaging time, by year 2010, achievement
is based on the 4th highest measurement
annually, averaged over 3 consecutive pollutants[36] are published by monitoring
years). centers.[37] Air quality in Oxford, Bath and
London[38] is particularly poor. One controversial
Note that there is no consequence in Canada to not study[39] performed by the Calor Gas company and
achieving these standards. In addition, these only published in the Guardian newspaper compared
apply to jurisdictions with populations greater walking in Oxford on an average day to smoking
than 100,000. Further, provinces and territories over sixty light cigarettes.
may set more stringent standards than those set by
the CCME. More precise comparisons can be collected from
the UK Air Quality Archive[40] which allows the
European Union user to compare a cities management of pollutants
against the national air quality objectives[41] set by
A report from the European Environment Agency DEFRA in 2000.
shows that road transport remains Europe’s single
largest air polluter [31] . Localized peak values are often cited, but average
values are also important to human health. The
National Emission Ceilings (NEC) for certain UK National Air Quality Information Archive
atmospheric pollutants are regulated by NECD offers almost real-time monitoring of "current
Directive 2001/81/EC (NECD).[32] As part of the maximum" air pollution measurements for many
preparatory work associated with the revision of UK towns and cities.[42] This source offers a wide
the NECD, the European Commission is assisted range of constantly updated data, including:
by the NECPI working group (National Emission
Ceilings – Policy Instruments).[33] Hourly Mean Ozone (µg/m³)
Hourly Mean Nitrogen dioxide (µg/m³)
Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament Maximum 15-Minute Mean Sulphur
and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air dioxide (µg/m³)
quality and cleaner air for Europe (the new Air 8-Hour Mean Carbon monoxide (mg/m³)
Quality Directive) has entried into force 2008-06- 24-Hour Mean PM10 (µg/m³ Grav Equiv)
11 [34].
DEFRA acknowledges that air pollution has a
Individual citizens can force their local councils to significant effect on health and has produced a
tackle air pollution, following an important ruling simple banding index system[43] is used to create a
in July 2009 from the European Court of Justice daily warning system that is issued by the BBC
(ECJ). The EU’s court was asked to judge the case Weather Service to indicate air pollution levels.[44]
of a resident of Munich, Dieter Janecek, who said DEFRA has published guidelines for people
that under the 1996 EU Air Quality Directive suffering from respiratory and heart diseases.[45]
(Council Directive 96/62/EC of 27 September
1996 on ambient air quality assessment and United States
management [35]) the Munich authorities were
obliged to take action to stop pollution exceeding
specified targets. Janecek then took his case to the
ECJ, whose judges said European citizens are
entitled to demand air quality action plans from
local authorities in situations where there is a risk
that EU limits will be overshot. [31] .
Looking down from the Hollywood Hills, with
United Kingdom
Griffith Observatory on the hill in the foreground,
air pollution is visible in downtown Los Angeles
Air quality targets set by the UK's Department for
on a late afternoon.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
are mostly aimed at local government
In the 1960s, 70s, and 90s, the United States
representatives responsible for the management of
Congress enacted a series of Clean Air Acts which
air quality in cities, where air quality management
significantly strengthened regulation of air
is the most urgent. The UK has established an air
pollution. Individual U.S. states, some European
quality network where levels of the key air
nations and eventually the European Union
followed these initiatives. The Clean Air Act sets traced directly to Asia. With it comes up to three-
numerical limits on the concentrations of a basic quarters of the black carbon particulate pollution
group of air pollutants and provide reporting and that reaches the West Coast. [48]
enforcement mechanisms.
Libertarians typically suggest propertarian
In 1999, the United States EPA replaced the methods of stopping pollution. They advocate
Pollution Standards Index (PSI) with the Air strict liability which would hold accountable
Quality Index (AQI) to incorporate new PM2.5 anyone who causes polluted air to emanate into
and Ozone standards. someone else's airspace. This offense would be
considered aggression, and damages could be
The effects of these laws have been very positive. sought in court under the common law, possibly
In the United States between 1970 and 2006, through class action suits.[49] Since in a libertarian
citizens enjoyed the following reductions in society, highways would be privatized under a
annual pollution emissions:[46] system of free market roads, the highway owners
would also be held liable for pollution emanating
carbon monoxide emissions fell from 197 from vehicles traveling along their property. This
million tons to 89 million tons would give them a financial incentive to keep the
nitrogen oxide emissions fell from 27 worst polluters off of their roads.
million tons to 19 million tons
sulfur dioxide emissions fell from 31
million tons to 15 million tons
Statistics
particulate emissions fell by 80%
lead emissions fell by more than 98% This section requires expansion.
In an October 2006 letter to EPA, the agency's [edit] Most polluted cities
independent scientific advisors warned that the
ozone smog standard ―needs to be substantially Air pollution is usually concentrated in densely
reduced‖ and that there is ―no scientific populated metropolitan areas, especially in
justification‖ for retaining the current, weaker developing countries where environmental
standard. The scientists unanimously regulations are relatively lax or nonexistent.
recommended a smog threshold of 60 to 70 ppb However, even populated areas in developed
after they conducted an extensive review of the countries attain unhealthy levels of pollution.
evidence. [47]
Environmental impacts of
greenhouse gas pollutants
Main articles: Ocean acidification and
Greenhouse effect