1 History of Air Pollution* In AD 61 Roman philosopher Seneca reported thus on conditions in Rome: As soon as I had gotten out of the heavy air of Rome and from the stink of the smoky chimneys thereof, which, being stirred, poured forth whatever pestilential vapors and soot they had enclosed in them, I felt an alteration of my disposition. * Coal burning caused air pollution in England under King Henry II. Coal burning prohibited in 1306. * In 1661 John Evelyn submitted the brochure Fumifumigium, or the Inconvenience of the Aer, and Smoake of London Dissipated (together with some remedies humbly proposed to King Charles II and the Parliament. * Next stage of heavy air pollution resulted after the Industrial Revolution. Predominant air pollution in the 19th century resulted from smoke and ash from coal burning or oil in boiler furnaces of stationary power plants, locomotives and marine vessels, and in home heating fireplaces. * Smoke and ash abatement in Great Britain was confirmed by the first Public Health Act of 1848.
2 In the U. S. smoke abatement was considered a municipal responsibility* In the U.S. smoke abatement was considered a municipal responsibility. In the 1880s the first municipal ordinances and regulations were directed towards industrial. locomotive and marine rather than domestic sources. * In the 20th century, the period steam locomotives were replaced by electric driven, thus transferring the air pollution from railroad to the electric generating station. Rapid increase in automobiles, however, negated the improvement in air pollution from locomotives and furnaces. Principal technological advances in terms of air pollution control appeared during this time. Electrostatic precipitators were designed and built, large scale gas treating devices were built through the involvement of chemical engineers in process design and modification. * In the period , air pollution problems in major cities became an issue. Meuse valley in Belgium (1930), Donora, PA (1948), Poza Rica, Mexico (1950), Los Angeles, CA (1940s) etc. Air pollution research got a start in CA. Toxicology came of age. The scientific and technological explosion in air pollution control took off.
3 * Major air pollution disaster in 1952 in London lead to the Clean Air Act in 1956 in Great Britain. Similar legislations and research efforts appeared in France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany and Japan. In the U.S. the first federal air pollution legislation enacted in Responsibility for administering it was with US PHS. In 1970 US EPA was created. The legislations were amended and extended several times. * 1980s: Major efforts to revamp the EPA. State DEQs were created and responsibility was shared between federal and state agencies. Global problems like greenhouse effects, ozone hole depletion, chlorofluorocarbons issues, acid rain etc became topics of concern. * 1990s: Clean air act amendments in Nov, Other problems such as global climate changes, stratospheric ozone depletion etc became more prominent issues. Where do we go from here in regulations and air quality improvements??
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8 Basic composition of the atmosphereCompound Dry air (ppm) Wet basis(ppm) Nitrogen , ,500 Oxygen , ,900 Water ,200 Argon 9, ,000 Carbon dioxide Neon Helium Methane Krypton Nitrous oxide Hydrogen Xenon Organic vapors
9 Basic Assumptions for Air Pollution Control1. Air belongs to everyone. 2. Modern life leads to some air pollution even though minute. 3. Public policy on pollution can be rationalized through scientific knowledge. 4. Transfer of pollution from one sector to another is not pollution prevention or abatement.
10 CATEGORIES OF AIR POLLUTIONAmbient air pollution – U.S. EPA regulations. Indoor air pollution – U.S. EPA regulations. Occupational air pollution – OSHA sets the standards based on ACGIH/NIOSH recommendations. Personal exposure -
11 AIR POLLUTION CONTROL PHILOSOPHIESAIR EMISSION STANDARDS AIR QUALITY STANDARDS EMISSION TAXES COST-BENEFIT STANDARDS
12 AIR EMISSION STANDARD PHILOSOPHY
13 AIR QUALITY STANDARDS PHILOSOPHYBased on the premise that the true air concentration possible is that determined by the threshold in a dose response curve. The Clean Air Act takes this approach. Determines the National Ambient Air Quality Criteria (NAAQS) for each class of pollutants. Requires that we consider a rigorous system called the “air pollution control system” that includes both the scientific aspects of toxicology and air quality modeling. No-threshold Response Threshold Dose
14 Air quality, accountingFlow Diagram for NAAQS Start Measure air quality Acceptable ? Predict future Air quality, accounting For growth Yes No Acceptable? Yes stop Compute needed Emission reductions No Enforce needed Emission reductions Compute and enforce Future needed Emission controls
15 Emission Tax PhilosophyEach emitter pays according to amount emitted. Example: $X / lb of air pollutant released. Incentives – tax benefits for industries; Government loans for upgrade; public subsidies for pollution prevention. Benefits mostly large industries. Right to pollute should never be for sale!!!
16 Cost-Benefit PhilosophyAssumes no-thresholds, or, if so unattainable. Accept some benefits through cost/benefit analysis. Shortcomings: who pays? Who benefits? One polluter, several pay for it? Placing value on damage to what (human health)? Pollution Damage cost Pollution Control cost Cost Total cost optimum Ambient air concentration
17 Features of Various Air Pollution Control PhilosophiesDesirable quality Emission Standard Air quality standard Emission taxes Cost-benefit analysis Cost effectiveness Very Bad Good Fair Excellent Simplicity Poor Terrible Enforceability Unknown Flexibility Unnecessary Evolutionary ability
18 National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Five Principal Air PollutantsSulfur dioxide, g/m3 1,300 ( 3 hr) 365 (24 hr) 81 (1 yr) Total suspended particulates (PM-10), g/m3 150 (24 hr) 50 (1 yr) Carbon monoxide, g/m3 40,000 ( 1 hr) 10,000 (8 hr) Oxides of nitrogen, g/m3 100 (1 yr) Lead, g/m3 1.5 (quarterly average)