Air Pollution Monitoring and
Sustainability
Andrew Knox
1 , Greg J. Evans
1 , Colin J. Lee
1 and
Jeffrey R. Brook
1,2
1 Department of Chemical Engineering and
Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto,
Toronto, ON, Canada
2 Air Quality Research Division, Atmospheric
Science and Technology Directorate,
Environment Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada
Article Outline
Glossary
Definition of the Subject
Introduction
Air Pollutants
Currently Recognized Air Pollution Problems
Motivations Behind Monitoring Air Pollution
Current Air Pollution Monitoring Practices
Past and Ongoing Success in Air Pollution
Mitigation
Outstanding Problems and Challenges
Current Air Pollution Monitoring and
Sustainability
Future Directions: Monitoring to Promote Greater
Sustainability
Conclusion
Bibliography
Glossary
Acid deposition Settling on land or water of
acidic air pollutants or air pollutants capable
of becoming acidic once settled.
Acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) The ability
of a medium (e.g., soil) to neutralize acidic pH,
generally indicated by concentration of base
cations.
Adaptive capacity The capacity to adjust to new
circumstances such that successful functioning
can continue.
Aerodynamic diameter The diameter of a spherical particle of unit density with a terminal
velocity equal to the particle being considered.
Aerosol Liquid- or solid-phase particles suspended
in a gas.
Aerosol optical depth Total extinction of light
due to scattering and absorption by particles
suspended in air between the point considered,
the light’s origin, and the point of observation.
Air pollution monitoring The use of scientific
instruments and methods to assess the concentrations or rates of emission of air pollution in
various environments.
Air pollution policy Legal guidelines governing
allowable emissions of pollutants to air, allowable concentrations of pollutants in air, and air
quality remediation efforts.
Air quality monitoring Observation of features
of air that relate to the air’s quality over some
time period. Said features include concentrations of pollutants.
Air quality The degree to which air is an ideal
supporter of life.
Background level The concentration of a substance or pollutant that remains regardless of
short-term, local changes in emissions patterns. Background concentrations are not
static, but changes in background concentration happen over the relatively long term.
Best available technology (BAT) A term relating to emissions standards set based on the
ability of existing pollution abatement technology to mitigate the release of pollutants.
Biogenic Produced by biological organisms or
systems.
Biosphere All life and ecosystems on Earth.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) A class of chlorine or fluorine containing organic compounds.
Climate change A long-term change in regional
and global meteorological mean state or the
variability of that mean state.
Command and control A strategy for limiting
emissions by assigning specific emissions maximums to pollution sources or otherwise imposing
pollution limiting rules and enforcing those rules.
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012
M. E. Goodsite et al. (eds.), Air Pollution Sources, Statistics and Health Effects,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0596-7_373
Originally published in
R. A. Meyers (ed.), Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology, © Springer Science+Business Media LLC, 2012
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0851-3_373
385
Sustainability
Andrew Knox
1 , Greg J. Evans
1 , Colin J. Lee
1 and
Jeffrey R. Brook
1,2
1 Department of Chemical Engineering and
Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto,
Toronto, ON, Canada
2 Air Quality Research Division, Atmospheric
Science and Technology Directorate,
Environment Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada
Article Outline
Glossary
Definition of the Subject
Introduction
Air Pollutants
Currently Recognized Air Pollution Problems
Motivations Behind Monitoring Air Pollution
Current Air Pollution Monitoring Practices
Past and Ongoing Success in Air Pollution
Mitigation
Outstanding Problems and Challenges
Current Air Pollution Monitoring and
Sustainability
Future Directions: Monitoring to Promote Greater
Sustainability
Conclusion
Bibliography
Glossary
Acid deposition Settling on land or water of
acidic air pollutants or air pollutants capable
of becoming acidic once settled.
Acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) The ability
of a medium (e.g., soil) to neutralize acidic pH,
generally indicated by concentration of base
cations.
Adaptive capacity The capacity to adjust to new
circumstances such that successful functioning
can continue.
Aerodynamic diameter The diameter of a spherical particle of unit density with a terminal
velocity equal to the particle being considered.
Aerosol Liquid- or solid-phase particles suspended
in a gas.
Aerosol optical depth Total extinction of light
due to scattering and absorption by particles
suspended in air between the point considered,
the light’s origin, and the point of observation.
Air pollution monitoring The use of scientific
instruments and methods to assess the concentrations or rates of emission of air pollution in
various environments.
Air pollution policy Legal guidelines governing
allowable emissions of pollutants to air, allowable concentrations of pollutants in air, and air
quality remediation efforts.
Air quality monitoring Observation of features
of air that relate to the air’s quality over some
time period. Said features include concentrations of pollutants.
Air quality The degree to which air is an ideal
supporter of life.
Background level The concentration of a substance or pollutant that remains regardless of
short-term, local changes in emissions patterns. Background concentrations are not
static, but changes in background concentration happen over the relatively long term.
Best available technology (BAT) A term relating to emissions standards set based on the
ability of existing pollution abatement technology to mitigate the release of pollutants.
Biogenic Produced by biological organisms or
systems.
Biosphere All life and ecosystems on Earth.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) A class of chlorine or fluorine containing organic compounds.
Climate change A long-term change in regional
and global meteorological mean state or the
variability of that mean state.
Command and control A strategy for limiting
emissions by assigning specific emissions maximums to pollution sources or otherwise imposing
pollution limiting rules and enforcing those rules.
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012
M. E. Goodsite et al. (eds.), Air Pollution Sources, Statistics and Health Effects,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0596-7_373
Originally published in
R. A. Meyers (ed.), Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology, © Springer Science+Business Media LLC, 2012
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0851-3_373
385