Introduction
There are many sources of air pollution which we can generally classify them into two; – i.) single point where the source is known and direct like a factory’s smoke stack, sewer lines or any other pipes discharging pollutants into a water system, soil or into the air. This type of pollution is easy to monitor and control or manage as the source is known and direct.
ii) Non-point or area pollution on the other hand has more dispersed and indirect sources like the automobiles, urban runoff, or runoff from agricultural farms containing fertilizer and other impurities that cannot be pointed back to one specific source hence not easy to manage or monitor (Anonymous, 2010).
Devising air pollution source
A large stack of smoke like the one in the picture can be from any industrial source like a factory’s chimney like that of a paper mill industry, a coal power plant chimney, chemical or oil refinery plant, nuclear power plant among others (Covey, 1987). To determine the air pollution source of a large smoke stack, one has to assess the physical characteristics of the smoke; description of the color concentration intensity is it grey or extremely dark? At what speed is it flowing, how fast is the smoke flowing out of the stack? – This is meant to estimate the overall measure of the smoke in the atmosphere after a certain period of time.
How high into the atmosphere is the smoke stack placed? This would be to reduce the health impacts caused by inhalation of the contents by the people neighboring the source of the smoke.
On the other hand, the amount of smoke released can be measured using modern methods like by use of the opacicity meter (smoke meters) that would measure and detect how much light the smoke blocks. However, in absence of this device one can keenly observe to determine the amount of light being blocked by the smoke in order to establish its potential source like either a nuclear plant or a coal power plant are bound to have more concentrated smoke waste output than a refinery plant as the former perform more intense function of processing than the latter.
Risk of pollution from the smoke stack
Determine the exact risk of pollution caused by the smoke stack calls for an intense exercise aimed at establishing the effects. However, pollution from industrial generally has many impacts not just on the environment but also on the health of the people living in close proximity to the smoke producing plant in terms of respiratory diseases and premature deaths. Some of the impacts of a large smoke stack include; Temperature reduction over land as large amounts of smoke released into the higher atmosphere form a layer blocking the sunlight and heat from reaching the earth surface and the lower atmosphere hence keeping the earth temperatures lower than normal.
Depending on the content of the smoke released into the atmosphere, acid rain can be formed from sulphur dioxide or carbon dioxide whose free molecules in the atmosphere combine with rainwater to form acidic rain that has health impacts on not just the skin of the people but plants as well.
Inhalation of some of the gasses contained in the smoke is bound to lead to not just respiratory diseases among the people but also cancer.
Carbon dioxide released from burning fossil oil and biomass like forests will absorb thermal radiation or long waves from the earth surface back into the atmosphere hence leading to increased temperature over the earth’s lower atmosphere. This alteration in the climate of the lower atmosphere will lead to melting of icecaps that will flow into water bodies hence increasing the sea water level through global warming tampering the habitation of animals like the polar bear.
Information required from the owners
The situation being so serious it will therefore be of great importance to visit the owners of the smoke producing stack and get their side of the story on the impacts of their activity on the environment and the people neighboring the plant. Some of the information required from the owners would include:
- What their plant is all about, that is, what they produce and of what importance that is has to society?
- What fuel source they use and whether they have considered alternatives and weighed comparatively the environmental impacts?
- Are there complains from the people living around the plant about being affected by the plants waste products?
- Does the plant benefit the people living around it in any way like providing manure processed through recycling the plants waste products?
- What measures have been put in place to reduce the amount of pollution caused by the plant and are there any more measures that can be put in place but have not?
Mediating the risk of pollution
Most pollution occurs from a local level, their solutions should therefore be target the local conditions taking into account the culture of the affected communities with the support of both the national and local communities (World Bank, 1994) Some of measures that can be put in place to reduce the amount of pollution in the atmosphere especially that from large smoke stacks, these include: Increasing tax on industrial products containing chemicals whose production would cause large amounts of pollution. This will encourage industries to consider more environmental friendly alternatives or come up with measures to avert the amount of pollution from the production of these chemicals, for example changing the production process, introducing new machinery with lesser pollution output or recycling their waste material will be considered options. Legislation measures can also help reduce the amount of damage caused by pollution where laws limiting the emission level and content released into the atmosphere are applied. This will attach a certain fine or sanction to any one producing more than the given level. This can be achieved through, remote sensing and continuous monitoring, of industrial emissions.
Technological options would be a major development towards averting air pollution where systems gadget can be installed in industries to control the amount of pollution done by these industries (Commission of the European Communities, 2005).
Sometimes there are some substances considered to be pollutants that can be recovered and recycled from streams of waste, development of markets for these products would largely encourage recycling hence reducing pollution.
Non Governmental Organizations need to come up with ways of posing sanctions, awards or fines to industries on their efforts to reduce pollution by adopting environmental friendly technologies or fines on those contributing to pollution (Karyadi, 2001). If poverty reduction measures are adopted by governments, the domestic income will increase allowing families to access better or modern energy sources like electricity and gas reducing the use of wood and charcoal fuel especially in the lower income regions.
Means of reducing pollution from motor vehicles
Motor vehicles are very essential part of our day to day life however; they contribute up to 60% of the overall air pollution. It is therefore important to consider ways of reducing this pollution level; this can be achieved through: Increasing pollution awareness to all stakeholders in the transportation industry that includes government agencies, Vehicle manufacturers and users, people’s committees among others.
Reducing driving especially when one has an options like walking or cycling for short distances, sharing cars with neighbors and friends (car pooling), considering use of public transport so as to reduce the amount of pollution caused by many people driving. There is a need to consider the fuel type we use in our cars so as to avoid or reduce consumption of gasoline in our cars and consider more environmental friendly options. Frequent car servicing may be expensive but keeps not only our cars in shape but also protects our environment by helping reduce unnecessary or excessive automobile emissions into the atmosphere and also reduces oil spillages into agricultural soil and water systems affecting aquatic life.
It’s important to consider simple measures like refilling car tanks in the cooler evenings instead of during hot hours when evaporation is bound to be higher. Using energy conserving grade motor oil would also reduce air pollution from motor vehicles.
Ensuring the fuel cap is well fitted would help reduce the release of unnecessary fumes reducing pollution from cars.
Technological advancement is very essential as today many countries are attempting the production of an electric transport system like electric cars and trains which are more environmental friendly compared to the gasoline dependent vehicles that contribute a great amount of pollution in the atmosphere (Asian Development Bank, 2002)
Conclusion
Introduction of new substances in the form of solid particulate matter, gas or liquid into the atmosphere is known to reduce the quality of air around us however air pollution has been growing with the increase of urbanization and industrialization. There is a great need to develop severe environmental pollution control measures to save the continent from the impacts of uncontrolled pollution.
Reference
Anonymous (2010). Point vs. non point pollution. Web.
Asian Development Bank (2002). Reduction Vehicle Emission Program: Integrated Action Plan to Reduce Vehicle Emission in Vietnam, RETA 5937 Reducing Vehicle Emissions in Asia.
Commission of the European Communities (2005). Thematic Strategy on air pollution.
Covey, C. (1987). Protracted climatic effects of massive smoke injections into the atmosphere, Nature 325, 701 – 703. Environment and development, World Bank 1994.
Karyadi, A. (2001). Sustainable Transportation Development the Case of Jakarta. SPENA Newsletter. Vol. 3, No. 1.