Air pollution part 4 Reducing air pollution

Montreal Protocol 1987: Goal was to reduce CFC emissions by 35% between 1989 and : Copenhagen Protocol included other ODCs 1999: Goal was to phase out all production of ODCs by 2010

Clean Air Acts (1970, 1977, 1990) –EPA is responsible for overseeing –National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS): covers 6 outdoor pollutants (CO, NOx, SO2, particulate matter, ozone, and lead) –Standards for HAPs (Hazardous Air Pollutants): emissions standards for 188 dangerous chemicals Toxic Release Inventory (1986 a “right to know” law) –States are responsible for their own plans, under guidance from the EPA.

CAA history 1970 –National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for 5 outdoor pollutants (CO, NOx, SO2, particulate matter, and lead) –Phase-out of leaded gasoline by mid-1980s 1977 –New Source Review: required old "grandfathered" industrial facilities and power plants to install pollution control technologies in any additions to their operations 1990 –proposed cap-and-trade program –added provisions for decreasing acid rain and ozone depletion –Added ozone to the NAAQs group

Clean Air Acts: IPR The big 7 between 1970 and 2004: –Decrease in particulates of 79% –CO 56% –SO 2 52% –NOx 30% –Ground level O 3 14% –The big winner… –Lead emissions decreased 98%! Not so great news –Photochemical smog, while experiencing an initial decline in the 1980s, did not decline further between 1993 and –Mostly due to 200% increase in vehicle use.

Solutions in progress Cap and trade program: fairly successful for coal power plants, has reduced SO 2 emissions. Catalytic converters (1975): mechanisms in vehicles to reduce harmful emissions; composed of platinum and palladium that reduces NOx to nitrogen and oxygen gases, oxidizes CO to CO 2, and hydrocarbons to CO 2 and H 2 O Electrostatic precipitators: particulates in a smokestack are given a negative charge and then are attracted to a positively charged "precipitator" wall—this is very effective (99%) (downside: use a lot of electricity) Scrubbers: particulates are washed out of dirty air from factory or powerplants with water. Creates a sludge-waste issue. © Washington Post

Room for improvement areas: Move from pollution clean-up mindset to a pollution prevention mindset Increase fuel efficiency of vehicles Regulate motorcycle and similar motors' emissions Regulate cargo ships…dirty stuff! Regulate airport emissions