Controlling Pollution - general principles Flashcards
Emission control strategies
control emission location and timing
Control of emission location
downwind of urban areas, avoiding liquid waste onto permeable rocks, marine discharge into strong currents rather than sheltered bays
Control of emission timing
emissions into rivers and oceans when the tide is going out rather than coming in. Avoiding temperature inversions that will trap pollutants at ground levels. Avoiding the release of specific pollutants at critical times for a particular organism.
Principles of pollution control
The polluter pays principle, The precautionary principle.
The Polluter Pays {rinciple
An environmental law that holds polluters responsible for the costs of any pollution they cause. It’s a key part of environmental policy in the European Union.
The Precautionary Principle
The precautionary principle is a risk management approach that encourages caution when there is a potential for harm, but no scientific consensus. It’s used to make decisions about new innovations, policies, or actions (or emissions releases).
Selection of control method
depends on the sensitivities of the environment into which the pollutant is being released, cost, legislation
The efficiency of pollution control
The cost of totally eliminating a pollutant may have a very high cost whereas low levels at an affordable cost may be judged acceptable. Acceptable levels of pollutants need to be determined so that high efficiency (cost/benefit) can be achieved.
BATNEEC
Best available technology not entailing excessive cost - An approach to pollution control where control technology is used that achieves the lowest emission levels, without costing so much that further marginal gains would risk their financial viability.
ALARA
As low as reasonably achievable - An approach to control of pollution, especially ionising radiation, where levels are kept as low as is practically achievable, taking into account economic and technological factors.
Risk : benefit analysis
A method to inform decision making by comparing the risks of carrying out an activity with the benefits of doing so.
Critical pathway analysis (CPA)
The prediction of the routes that an effluent will take in the environment, and where it may be deposited or become concentrated to assess pollution risk.
Critical Group Monitoring (CGM)
A method of monitoring pollutants, particularly radioactive discharges. If the members of the public that are most at risk are safe, then so is everyone else.
