Page 41 - Air pollution and greenhouse gases from basic concepts to engineering applications for air emission control

14 1 Air Emissions

partially due to less stringent emission control policies and weak implementation, in
addition to the low labor cost. Countries that have a particularly high demand for
environmental quality currently specialize in products that can be produced in an
environmentally friendly manner. However, these countries overlook the protocol
of other countries that manufacture products that produce pollution.

1.5 General Approaches to Air Emission Control

Currently, it is seemingly impossible to have a pollution-free environment without a
cost. It is only reasonable to control the air quality to a certain level at an appro-
priate cost. To achieve this goal, all governments, industries, and the public have to
work together and share the cost, more or less. The government’s role is the making
and enforcing of laws and regulations based on local affordability and implemen-
tation ability. Regulations change over time and at different locations, but they
should be cost-effective and enforceable. It is meaningless to set a standard so high
that cannot be met.

1.5.1 Air Emission and Air Quality Standards

Government agencies approach air pollution control by developing and enforcing
air emission standards and air quality standards. Air emission taxes and cost–benefit
standards are relatively newer approaches that are not yet well implemented and, as
such, are excluded from this book.
In most regions, standards are implemented by using a combination of both air
emission and air quality standards. In practice, air quality standards set up by
governments define “clean air.” Each standard is set by government agencies, and
implementation protocols are also provided. Air emission and air quality standards
are widely accepted and used in many countries and are elaborated in the following
subsections. These standards are first introduced here. Chap. 15 covers the technical
knowledge for the implementation of these standards, which require air quality
monitoring and air emission monitoring.

1.5.1.1 Air Emission Standards

An air emission standard sets some maximum levels of air emissions from a facility.
If emissions from all facilities meet the standards, it enables the lowest level of air
emissions into the atmosphere and the best air quality possible. Air emission
standards developed by government agencies (such as the US Environmental
Protection Agency and Environment Canada) set the upper limits of air emissions
from a source and also include the methodologies of meeting these standards.