What are the aims of air quality management?
Poverty is bad for health so the aim of air quality management is NOT to kill industrial and economic development.
• Aim is to reduce exposure of workers and public to levels which minimise health impacts as much as possible not entailing over excessive costs.
• Hence as control measures become more effective and society becomes wealthier, acceptable levels of pollution reduce.
• Legislation has to protect workers, the public, habitats, ecosystems from possible risks.
• Would industry do it without legislation?
Environmental Air Pollution Control and Air Quality Management
• Somewhat bewildering array of regulations and legislation applying to pollution control.
– Statutes (Acts of Parliament)
– EU directives following single European Act in 1987.
– Statutory instruments or regulations.
• For a specific process then all relevant regulations must be considered.
• Intention here is to give a flavour of the framework for pollution control and most important legislation and procedures.
• Legal framework CANNOT be ignored or the permission to operate will not be given or fines and criminal prosecution may result.
• The power for enforcement falls to
– Local Authorities (local)
– Environment Agency (national)
– Health and Safety Executive (air quality in work place).