Mitigation Strategies Flashcards

What is a common strategy to reduce vehicle emissions?

Answer: Promoting public transportation

Promoting public transportation reduces the number of individual vehicles on the road, thereby decreasing overall vehicle emissions. Fewer cars mean less combustion of fossil fuels, leading to lower releases of pollutants like nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter.

What role do scrubbers play in air pollution control?

Answer: Capture pollutants from exhaust gases

Scrubbers are air pollution control devices that use a liquid (often water or a chemical solution) to remove pollutants from industrial exhaust gases. They are highly effective at capturing particulate matter, acid gases, and other harmful substances before they are released into the atmosphere.

How does tree planting help improve air quality?

Answer: Absorb air pollutants and CO2

Tree planting improves air quality primarily through photosynthesis, where trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) and release oxygen. Additionally, their leaves and surfaces can trap particulate matter and absorb gaseous pollutants like ozone and sulfur dioxide. This natural process effectively filters the air, reducing the concentration of harmful substances and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

What is a benefit of switching from coal to natural gas in power generation?

Answer: Reduces air pollutant emissions

Natural gas is considered a cleaner-burning fossil fuel compared to coal for power generation. When combusted, it produces significantly lower emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter, and mercury, which are major air pollutants. This reduction in harmful emissions offers a substantial environmental benefit over coal, contributing to better air quality.

How can dust emissions from construction sites be minimized?

Answer: Applying water to surfaces

Dust emissions from construction sites are primarily generated by the movement of vehicles, excavation, and material handling on dry surfaces. Applying water to these surfaces, such as unpaved roads and stockpiles, helps bind the dust particles together. This makes them heavier and less likely to become airborne, significantly reducing the amount of particulate matter released into the atmosphere.

What is one way industrial facilities can reduce VOC emissions?

Answer: Use low-VOC products

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that evaporate easily and contribute to air pollution, including ground-level ozone formation. Industrial facilities can significantly reduce VOC emissions by switching to products, such as paints, coatings, and cleaning agents, that are formulated with lower concentrations of these volatile chemicals. This proactive approach minimizes the release of harmful compounds into the atmosphere during manufacturing and operational processes.