strategies to control pollution

• Strategies to predict pollutants behaviour

  -> critical pathway monitoring

  -> critical group monitoring

  -> emission location

  -> emission timing
• What is a critical pathway analysis?

  analysis used to predict potential pollutant mobility in the environment to assess the severity and location of the pollution
• How does a critical pathway work?

  if the cpa predicts that the pollutant will become concentrate, will not disperse or will go to an important or sensitive location, then control measures will be put into place
• Factors in a Critical Pathway Analysis

  properties of the pollution-> state of matter, density, solubility in water or lipids, chemical stability

  features of the environment-> wind and water currents, geology, pH, oxygen availability, temperature
• How can environmental sampling be used?

  when a pollutant is released the environment is monitored to check if it is becoming concentrated in places that are considered a threat
• materials that would be tested

  -atmospheric dust

  -water

  -soil

  -grass

  -milk

  -meat

  -vegetables

  -fish
• What is critical group monitoring?

  a specific method of assessing the risk of public exposure to pollutants—more at risk people are monitored and if safe it is assumed everyone is safe
• What criteria is used in critical group monitoring?

  -where they live

  -where their drinking water and food comes from

  -what they do in their spare time

  -where they work
• Emission control strategies


  control of location and time of a pollutants release
• Control of emission location

  the location can be altered away from the source to minimise harm to humans and environmental damage
• examples of controlling the emission location

  Marine discharge- where water currents will dilute and disperse emissions

  emissions downwind of urban areas
• Control of emission timing 


  changes in the timing of emissions can effect the severity of pollution
• Examples of controlling the emission timing

  Tidal cycle- emissions should be times when the tide is going out so pollution can be dispersed into the sea

  Temperature Inversions- atmospheric emissions during temperature inversions are less likely to disperse
• Principles of Control


  The polluter pays principle

  Precaution principle

  Selection of Control Measures
• The polluter pays principle 


  the organisation that causes pollution is responsible for any problems it causes and has an obligation to prevent it

  the incentive to comply is greater if financial penalties are high
• precaution principle


  assumes that a waste will cause pollution if released, until research confirms it is unlikely to do so, then release is permitted
• Precaution principle ✅/❎


  safer then releasing waste and waiting to see its effects

  being unaware of a problem that isn’t understood is not an excuse and doesn’t reduce responsibility
• Selection of control methods

  Production prevention

  Release prevention

  Post-release redemption

  Alternative process
• Production prevention 


  Desulphurisation of fossil fuels before combustion
• Release prevention 


  electrostatic precipitators for smoke control

  catalytic converters for control of NOx, CO and hydrocarbons in vehicular exhaust emissions
• Post-release redemption


  oil spills clean up

  phytoredemption of land contamination with heavy metals
• Alternative process 


  Use of electric vehicals instead of diesal or petroleum cars

  use of pyrethroid pesticides instead of the more polluting use of renewable energy resources instead of fossil fuels
• The efficiency of pollution control

  -control can be expensive

  -rarely practical to reduce emissions to zero

  -ALARA as low as reasonably achieved

  -BATNEEC best available technology, not entailing excessive loss

  -at achieve acceptable environ conditions

  -controls must keep pace with development
• Phytoremediation


  Using plants to absorb and remove pollutants from water
• Activated Carbon


  A type of adsorption polymer used for gas adsorption and removal of VOCs, heavy metals, and other pollutants
• Leachate Collection


  A system designed to collect and remove leachate from landfills and contaminated soil, preventing pollution of groundwater and surface water
• Bioremediation


  A treatment technology that uses living organisms to clean up contaminated soil, water, or air
• In-Situ Bioremediation


  Treats pollutants in the soil or groundwater without extracting the soil or water
• Satellite Monitoring


  A technology that uses satellites to monitor and track pollution in the environment
• what pollutant can adsorption by polymers control?


  heavy metals

  oil

  radioactive waste
• what pollutant can bioremediation control?


  asbestos

  heavy metals

  oil

  pesticides
• what pollutant does leachate collection control?


  heavy metals
• what pollutant does phytoremediation control?


  heavy metals

  oil

  pesticides
• what pollutant can satellite monitoring control?


  oil

  radioactive waste