Environmental Science - AIR DV Document Preview: Describe regulatory strategies and tactics to air quality control. Describe the following with examples where necessary: Characteristics of atmospheric...

Environmental Science
1. Describe regulatory strategies and tactics to air quality control.
Regulatory strategies are the overall plan to control air pollution. The strategies are based
on the principles of air quality standards that are used for management of air quality. The
strategies include identification and implementation of specific measures to improve the air
quality (Control strategies, n.d.). Tactics refer to the implementation of the strategy. An example
of tactics can be application of standards to attain the desired quality as required by the air
quality management strategy. These measures depend on the nature of the pollutant, the source
of the pollutant etc. In US, for designing uniform National Ambient Air Quality Standards
(NAAQS), Clean Air Act of 1970 designated EPA with the responsibility. Standards were set for
the pollutants, with primary standards relating to impact on human health and the secondary
standards addressing the community and welfare aspects. Based on this, the states were required
to develop a plan for enforcement, implementation, and controlling of the NAAQS and submit
the same to EPA. These plans include detailed information on the sources of pollutants in the
states, detailed calculations and description of monitoring programs.
2. Describe the following with examples where necessary:
a. Characteristics of atmospheric radiation and its impacts on earth and
environment.
Atmospheric radiation refers to radiation emitted by or being propagated through the
atmosphere. It refers to the energy transferred within the atmosphere through photons or
electromagnetic wave. When the solar radiation enters the atmosphere it faces the gasses and
arsenal in the atmosphere. This determines the quantity and place where the radiations enter
earth. Some radiation is scattered, transmitted or absorbed. Atmospheric radiation causes global
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warming by absorbing the heat from the radiation. Latitudes and seasons influence the heat
absorbed by the atmosphere from solar radiation. This warm atmosphere then flows across the
globe. For example, the harmful radiations can affect the productivity and quality of crops like
wheat, soybean, cotton etc.
b. Smog and its effects on humans and welfare.
Smog is a yellow-black color mixture of smoke particles from industries with fog formed
near the surface of the earth. It can be industrial smog or photochemical smog. Ground-level
ozone is the primary element in smog formation (Welfare effects – smog, n.d.).
This ozone reacts strongly to destroy or alter many other molecules. Smog affects the
human health by causing diseases from cough and cold, mild chest pain to fatal diseases like
lung cancer. People having asthma problems are more susceptible. It also affects agriculture.
Crops like wheat, cotton, tomato gets infected on coming in contact with smog. When the level
of smog id high, it is carried by the wind to places away from the cities and affects the ecosystem
of larger areas including aquatic systems, forests, etc. For instance, Mexico City is worst hit with
smog. It is often advised that the children and the elderly stay outside the city to avoid having
health problems.
3. Answer the following three-part question:
a. Define “trespass” and “nuisance” as they apply to air pollution law. Provide
examples of each.
Trespass refers to intruding unlawfully in one’s person or property. Nuisance refers to a
legal action that arises as a result of harm caused by using one’s property. The advantage in
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bringing a trespass action is the longer statute of limitations. In many cases it is found that
trespass theory is inadequate for the effective control of air pollution (Juergensmeyer & Morse,
1968). For example, construction and operation of a racetrack can be a nuisance because the
noise and debris from the project. If a manufacturing plant dumps hazardous wastes in an
agricultural land and cause damage to the property, the owner of the agricultural land can sue the
plant for trespassing.
b. What is the difference between “private” and “public” nuisance.
Public nuisance refers to interference with rights that are common to a society and the
public as a whole. This is an unreasonable interference affecting public health, safety, peace,
comfort or convenience. Private nuisance refers to interference with private use and enjoyment
of one’s land. The nature of nuisance does not differentiate the public and private nuisance but
the difference lies in the scope of the effect of the nuisance. A private nuisance is only a tort but
a public nuisance is a criminal offence (Juergensmeyer & Morse, 1968).
c. Describe, in terms of the way it is developed, the difference between common
law and statute law.
Common law is derived from customs and practices of people followed through
generations and statute law refers to legislature that has been laid down and codified. These are
rules and regulations set by the law. Common laws often include judgments of cases in courts
and tribunals and based on precedent law. Statute laws are formed by the government of a
country.
4. Answer the following two-part question:
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a. Name and describe one control/technology technique for each of the below
pollutant emission phases: 1) particulate; 2) gaseous.
One control techniques for pollutant emission phases of particulate is gravity settling
chamber. These control tools use gravity settling technique to remove the particles from the gas
stream. This technique is mainly used for very large particles, usually 75 micrometers and above
(Air Pollutants and Control Techniques - Particulate Matter - Control Techniques, n.d.).
A control technique for gaseous pollutant emission phases is absorption. In this process
the gas stream, is passes though liquid absorbents that removes the gaseous pollutants. Plate
tower, sparay tower, packed bed tower are some of the tools that work on the technique of
absorption. The effectiveness of the technique depends on the concentration of the absorbent, the
quantity of the absorbent and the gas and the time duration of contact.
b. Briefly explain the disposal of collected material from particulate control
devices and describe briefly the ideal solution to the problem of collected
particulate matter disposal.
As these devices only collect the particulate materials and do not destroy them, disposal
management is important. The disposal process involves treating the pollutants before...