Air Pollution - Environmental Science - page 364

In developing countries, indoor air pollution
from open fires and leaky and inefficient stoves that
burn wood, charcoal, or coal could be reduced if gov-
ernments gave people inexpensive clay or metal
stoves that burn biofuels more efficiently while vent-
ing their exhaust to the outside, or stoves that use so-
lar energy to cook food (solar cookers). This policy
would also reduce deforestation by using less fuel-
wood and charcoal.

Solutions

Motor Vehicle Air Pollution

Prevention Cleanup

Mass transit Emission control

devices

Bicycles and
walking

What Is the Next Step?
We need to focus on preventing air pollution, with
emphasis on sharply reducing indoor air pollution in
developing countries.
Encouraging news. Since 1970, most of the world's de-
veloped countries have enacted laws and regulations

Less polluting
engines

Less polluting fuels

Car exhaust
inspections twice
a year

Improve fuel efficiency

Get older, polluting
cars off the road

Give buyers large tax
write-offs for buying
low-polluting, energy-
efficient vehicles

Solutions

Indoor Air Pollution

Stricter emission
standards Restrict driving in polluted areas

Prevention Cleanup or

Dilution

Figure 15-18 Solutions: methods for reducing emissions from
motor vehicles. Critical thinking: which two of these solutions do
you believe are the most important?

Cover ceiling tiles
and lining of AC
ducts to prevent
release of mineral
fibers

Use adjustable
fresh air vents for
work spaces

x

Increase intake of
outside air

H OW W OULD Y OU V OTE ? Should older coal-burning power
and industrial plants have to meet the same air pollution stan-
dards as new facilities? Cast your vote online at http://biology
.brookscole.com/miller11.

Ban smoking or
limit it to well-
ventilated areas

Change air more
frequently

Set stricter
formaldehyde
emissions
standards for
carpet, furniture,
and building
materials

Bad news. The growing number of motor vehicles
in urban areas of many developing countries is wors-
ening the already poor air quality there. Many of these
vehicles are 10 or more years old, have no pollution
control devices, and burn leaded gasoline.

Circulate a build-
ing's air through
rooftop green-
houses

Prevent radon
infiltration

Solutions: Reducing Indoor Air Pollution
Little effort has been devoted to reducing indoor air
pollution even though it poses a much greater threat
to human health than outdoor air pollution.
Reducing indoor air pollution does not require setting
indoor air quality standards and monitoring the more
than 100 million homes and buildings in the United
States (or the buildings in any country). Instead, air
pollution experts suggest several ways to prevent or
reduce indoor air pollution, as shown in Figure 15-19.
Another possibility to ensure cleaner indoor air in
high-rise buildings is to build rooftop greenhouses
through which building air can be circulated.

Use exhaust hoods
for stoves and
appliances burn-
ing natural gas

Use office
machines in well-
ventilated areas

Use less polluting
substitutes for
harmful cleaning
agents, paints, and
other products

Install efficient
chimneys for
wood-burning
stoves

Figure 15-19 Solutions: ways to prevent and reduce indoor
air pollution. Critical thinking: which two of these solutions do
you believe are the most important?