C1.3 What choices can we make personally, locally, nationally or globally to improve air quality?

C1.3 What choices can we make personally, locally, nationally or globally to improve air quality?

Motor vehicles and power stations that burn fossil fuels are two major sources of atmospheric pollution, so we need to look at how emissions from these sources can be reduced.

Emissions from power stations can be reduced by:

  • Using less electricity so fewer fossil fuels need to be burned.
  • Removing toxic chemicals before they are burned, e.g. removing the sulfur from natural gas and fuel oil.
  • Using alternative renewable sources of electricity, e.g. solar energy, wind energy and hydroelectric energy to replace fossil fuels
  • Using a filter to remove sulfur dioxide and particulates (carbon and ash) from flue gases before they leave a coal-burning power stations chimney.

The sulfur dioxide is removed from flue gases by wet scrubbing, using an alkaline slurry or seawater

Emissions from motor vehicles can be reduced by:

  • Buying a car with a modern engine that is more efficient and burns less fuel
  • Buying a hybrid car, which uses electric power in the city centre and can then switch to running on petrol for longer journeys
  • Using a low-sulfur (readily available) to reduce the amount of sulfur dioxide released
  • Converting the engine to run on biodiesel, which is a renewable fuel
  • Adjusting the balance between public and private transport to reduce the number of vehicles on the road

Making sure cars are fitted with CATALYTIC CONVERTERS which reduce the amount of carbon monoxide and nitrogen monoxide emitted.

CATALYTIC CONVERTER