It should be acknowledged that all industrial processes have the potential to produce air emissions. For these emissions to be controlled effectively, it is important to identify where and when they are produced, their composition (i.e., the size of particles or gases), how much there is, and what concentrations they reach. Once this information has been determined, appropriate steps can be taken to minimize them in the future.
Good air emission control practices are meant to reduce the number of pollutants released into the environment and protect human health by minimizing exposure to harmful substances. Some common examples of industries that regularly release contaminates into the air include coal-fired power plants, oil refineries, and transportation companies. Contaminants may cause immediate health problems such as irritation and inflammation of the eyes, nose, and throat or contribute to long-term health issues such as cancer.
If more than one pollutant is released from a facility into the air at once, their effects are multiplied in terms of concentration and duration. For example, let us say that two chemicals are released from a facility simultaneously: Chemical A, which has an immediate impact on human health when exposed at a certain level for ten minutes; and chemical B, which impacts health over a period of time above several hours below certain concentrations. If these chemicals were to be emitted simultaneously by way of wind dispersion or stack emissions, they would interact with each other to have significantly different effects on human health than if neither substance was present. This is the case in many scenarios, and it is important to consider how multiple contaminants interact when monitoring air emissions control.
Monitoring for air emissions control is an important step in any industrial process. By understanding where and when pollutants are released, what their composition is, how much there are, and what concentrations they reach, companies can take appropriate steps to minimize them in the future. This includes minimizing exposure by considering multiple contaminants that may be present at one time near sensitive populations like schools or daycare centers. Contact Air Clear, LLC at airclear.net.
