Industrial sources of pollution

Examples of industrial chemical waste are given in Table 16.1. Common industrial sources of pollution are given in Table 16.2. Since waste can result in pollution, the two terms are often used synonymously. 

Examples of industrial chemical waste are given in Table 13.1. Common industrial sources of pollution are given in Table 13.2. Since waste can result in pollution, the two terms are often used synonymously. Wastes can be in the form of solid, liquid or gas, or any combination, e.g. solid waste comprises liquid slurries, sludges, thixotropic solids and solids of varying particle sizes. Typical examples are given in Table 13.3. 

This chapter gives a short, introductory overview of the industrial sources of pollution, present practices, and the constraints of minimizing the environmental impact with particular reference to the chemical industry. 

As treated in other chapters of this book, air masses often transport acidic pollutants thousands of kilometres from their original source prior to deposition. Because air mass and storm movements tend to follow regular patterns, there is a strong linkage between the sources of pollutants and the areas that receive the acidic deposition. In eastern North America, the air mass movements and storm tracks are, on the average, from southwest towards the northeast. This serves to carry the emitted pollutants from the industrial "heartland over the more rural and comparatively pristine area of the northeast United States and southeastern Qmada (14). The spatial distribution of sulphate deposition over the eastern United States and Canada in 1980 is shown in Figure 4 (17). 

Although the major concern about the fate of organic pollntants in soil has been about pesticides in agricultural soils, other scenarios are also important. The disposal of wastes on land (e.g., at landfill sites) has raised questions about movement of pollutants contained in them into the air or neighboring rivers or water conrses. The presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) or PAHs in snch wastes can be a significant source of pollution. Likewise, the disposal of some industrial wastes in landfill sites (e.g., by the chemical industry) raises questions about movement into air or water and needs to be carefully controlled and monitored. 

OSPAR facilitated these technical efforts by setting up an Intersessional Correspondence Group (ICG) - a loose group of experts drawn from industry and government - which reports to OSPAR s annual meeting on point sources of pollution (known, creatively, as POINT). This work culminated in a two-day chlor-alkali workshop ( WOCAI ) in Madrid in September 1999 at which very full technical presentations were made on every aspect of the mercury issue. The conclusions of this workshop supported some, but not all, of industry s views. Where areas of technical disagreement still existed these were referred back to the ICG for resolution. 

However, an issue of concern is the relatively high level of alkylphenolic compounds in both water and sediment upstream of known sources of pollution (WWTPs). The concentrations of total alkylphenolic compounds (APEO, AP and APEC) ranged from 5 to 15 jxg L-1 in water and from 0.075 to 0.55 xg g-1 in sediments, and may be attributed mainly to two origins. One is the use of sewage sludge in agriculture and the other is the uncontrolled discharge of industrial wastewaters in the upper course of the river. 

Spent solvents constitute a major source of pollution in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Much of this pollution can be prevented by solvent substitution using solvents that are more environmentally compatible or possess higher performance. This can lead to a reduction in the amount used. However, identifying replacement solvents is often a difficult process performed in an ad hoc manner. 

Agriculture, energy plants, road transport, and industry are the most important sources of pollutants of the atmosphere. Agriculture, for example, charges air with acidifying gases that may lead to acid rain formation with a dramatic impact on lakes, rivers, and marine life. 

The quality of fresh water resources in the world (river, ground or lake water) is relevant for all life on Earth. It should be noted that only 20 % of the world s population has access to good quality drinking water. The water quahty of natural water sources for hfe is affected by their origin (e.g., mountain aquifers may be contaminated in densely populated regions with industrial and agricultural activities). These numerous sources of pollution have the potential to contaminate the aquifer. 

Beryllium and mercury were two of the three air pollutants promulgated as hazardous by the EPA in 1973 and subject to stringent controls (30). While coal combustion releases these elements to the atmosphere, EPA, on the basis of available information, held that this source did not generate sufficient concentrations to be considered hazardous even under restrictive dispersion conditions (29, 31). Coal combustion is thought to be a significant industrial source of atmospheric As (13), Bi (14), Cd (32), FI (33), Hg (3), and Ni (34). 

In a number of ways, however, humans have surpassed volcanoes as sources of pollution. In the United States alone, for example, industrial and other human activities have been depositing about 20 million tons of sulfur dioxide in the air every year since around 1950 By one estimate, human activities account for about 70 percent of all sulfur that enters the global atmosphere. To... 

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