The story of lead as a gasoline additive is an
example of how reduction of a pollutant does not
always result in greater sustainability. With lead no
longer an acceptable fuel additive, methyl
tert-butyl ether (MTBE) was used to perform its
function. However, MTBE was later found to be a
powerful contaminant of water and a likely carcinogen [103]. Now bio-ethanol is being discussed as
a less poisonous fuel octane booster than MTBE,
but it introduces its own risks of soil and groundwater contamination and can lead to increased
emissions of NO x and organics [104], not to mention stresses on global food supplies and agricultural resources (i.e., land and water). While
legislation such as the USA’s Clean Air Act was
successful in reducing emissions from gasoline, it
did not eliminate the environmental threat of fuel
oxygenates. More holistic systems and policies,
rather than the reactionary phasing out of particular
pollutants, are necessary to truly solve the problem.
Further, when implementing such policies, we
need to anticipate potential associated consequences and be prepared for follow-up monitoring
so that we can detect any resulting impacts.
In addition to the problems remaining after
emissions and ambient concentrations of pollutants have been reduced, there are instances where
reductions in concentrations elude the efforts of
policy, technology, and behavioral changes. Over
half of the population of the USA lives in counties
where air quality standards are exceeded [99]. O 3
in populated areas such as those in Southern
Ontario is continuing a long-term trend of increasing concentrations [105] despite decreases in
concentration of precursors, leading to questioning
of the fundamental scientific assumptions
surrounding tropospheric ozone concentrations
[106]. Background ozone is increasing in parts of
the northern hemisphere, and this increase may be
linked to intercontinental transport of pollutants
[107]. Ozone and PM concentrations also continue
to be challenges throughout the USA [99].
Despite the effort and advances made in
research, policy, and environmental practice, air
pollution is still a health problem, a visibility
problem, and an economic problem. Further,
only weak links exist between air quality objectives and sustainability. Concentration and
emissions standards are not set to serve sustainability. Air quality objectives that will allow the
eventual recognition of sustainability once it has
been achieved, or even how far away sustainability currently is, are lacking. The biosphere is still
being damaged by air pollution. Acid rain is
declining in developed countries, but is still
beyond the critical load, is increasing in some
regions, and totally unmonitored in others. Thus,
despite progress in recent decades, there is little
reason to believe that we currently have a sustainable burden of pollutants in our atmosphere. Thus,
there are considerable challenges remaining for
the air pollution monitoring community in relation to sustainability.
Current Air Pollution Monitoring and
Sustainability
Diverse techniques contribute to the monitoring
of pollution in the atmosphere. This monitoring
allows for air quality advisories, research into the
nature and sources of air pollution, evaluation of
the conformity with standards, and assessment of
the need for additional or alternate regulations or
policies. All of these outcomes of air pollution
monitoring reduce the burden of air pollution on
human society and the environment. Unfortunately, what is learned and understood is not proportionate to action taken. Pollution is still
eroding the capacity for sustainability. Improvements on all fronts are necessary, including
improvements in air pollution monitoring, the
associated science, practices, the thinking that
underpins them, and the social response they
receive. Determination of what constitutes a sustainability standard or threshold will also require
further work.
Future Directions: Monitoring to
Promote Greater Sustainability
In redesigning the air pollution monitoring community and the larger air pollution establishment
for sustainability, there are a number changes to be
made to current practices. There are both broad, or
Air Pollution Monitoring and Sustainability
407
example of how reduction of a pollutant does not
always result in greater sustainability. With lead no
longer an acceptable fuel additive, methyl
tert-butyl ether (MTBE) was used to perform its
function. However, MTBE was later found to be a
powerful contaminant of water and a likely carcinogen [103]. Now bio-ethanol is being discussed as
a less poisonous fuel octane booster than MTBE,
but it introduces its own risks of soil and groundwater contamination and can lead to increased
emissions of NO x and organics [104], not to mention stresses on global food supplies and agricultural resources (i.e., land and water). While
legislation such as the USA’s Clean Air Act was
successful in reducing emissions from gasoline, it
did not eliminate the environmental threat of fuel
oxygenates. More holistic systems and policies,
rather than the reactionary phasing out of particular
pollutants, are necessary to truly solve the problem.
Further, when implementing such policies, we
need to anticipate potential associated consequences and be prepared for follow-up monitoring
so that we can detect any resulting impacts.
In addition to the problems remaining after
emissions and ambient concentrations of pollutants have been reduced, there are instances where
reductions in concentrations elude the efforts of
policy, technology, and behavioral changes. Over
half of the population of the USA lives in counties
where air quality standards are exceeded [99]. O 3
in populated areas such as those in Southern
Ontario is continuing a long-term trend of increasing concentrations [105] despite decreases in
concentration of precursors, leading to questioning
of the fundamental scientific assumptions
surrounding tropospheric ozone concentrations
[106]. Background ozone is increasing in parts of
the northern hemisphere, and this increase may be
linked to intercontinental transport of pollutants
[107]. Ozone and PM concentrations also continue
to be challenges throughout the USA [99].
Despite the effort and advances made in
research, policy, and environmental practice, air
pollution is still a health problem, a visibility
problem, and an economic problem. Further,
only weak links exist between air quality objectives and sustainability. Concentration and
emissions standards are not set to serve sustainability. Air quality objectives that will allow the
eventual recognition of sustainability once it has
been achieved, or even how far away sustainability currently is, are lacking. The biosphere is still
being damaged by air pollution. Acid rain is
declining in developed countries, but is still
beyond the critical load, is increasing in some
regions, and totally unmonitored in others. Thus,
despite progress in recent decades, there is little
reason to believe that we currently have a sustainable burden of pollutants in our atmosphere. Thus,
there are considerable challenges remaining for
the air pollution monitoring community in relation to sustainability.
Current Air Pollution Monitoring and
Sustainability
Diverse techniques contribute to the monitoring
of pollution in the atmosphere. This monitoring
allows for air quality advisories, research into the
nature and sources of air pollution, evaluation of
the conformity with standards, and assessment of
the need for additional or alternate regulations or
policies. All of these outcomes of air pollution
monitoring reduce the burden of air pollution on
human society and the environment. Unfortunately, what is learned and understood is not proportionate to action taken. Pollution is still
eroding the capacity for sustainability. Improvements on all fronts are necessary, including
improvements in air pollution monitoring, the
associated science, practices, the thinking that
underpins them, and the social response they
receive. Determination of what constitutes a sustainability standard or threshold will also require
further work.
Future Directions: Monitoring to
Promote Greater Sustainability
In redesigning the air pollution monitoring community and the larger air pollution establishment
for sustainability, there are a number changes to be
made to current practices. There are both broad, or
Air Pollution Monitoring and Sustainability
407