Air pollution

Air Pollution

NEA regulates sources of air pollution, imposing minimum standards to ensure that emissions remain at acceptable levels to ensure that Singapore has clean and safe air. Emission standards are specified in the Environmental Protection and Management (Air Impurities) Regulations.The main targets of NEA’s air pollution regulations are industrial operations, power generation plants and motor vehicles.

Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂) Emission Inventory

SO₂ emissions are a major issue in Singapore given off mainly by refineries, power stations, other industries, cargo ships. As shown below is the emissions data collected from various sources in 2007.

During that period of time when industrialization has grown rapidly and emissions were extreme, Singapore had specifically reclaimed a piece of land, Jurong Island, for industrial purposes.  

Sources	Emitters	SO2 Emissions (tonnes)	Contribution of SO2 Emissions
Refineries	Shell	28,278	51%
	Singapore Refining Company	26,754
	ExxonMobil	22,421
Power Stations	Power Seraya	14,194
	Tuas Power	18,382	27%
	Senoko Power	7,754
Shipping	-	28,026	18%
Other Industries	Sembcorp Utilities and Terminals	748	3%
	ExxonMobil Petrochemical	722
	Linde Syngas	546
	Mitsui Phenol	436
	Petrochemical Corporation of Singapore	208
	Invista	3
	Other Fuel Oil Users	1,300
	Diesel Users	46
Motor Vehicles	Petrol Vehicles	891	1%
	Diesel Vehicles	101
Total		150,810	100%

I think that by isolating the industrial area, away from residential and working places, people are less likely to be affected by the harmful toxins and chemicals released by the factories. Although this method does not help in overcoming air pollution, it helps to improve the problems that come along with air pollution (e.g.: haze, health conditions of the people)

Industrial Emissions

The NEA’s Source Emission Test Scheme for industries requires industries to conduct source emission test on their own or engage accredited consultants to do so on their behalf. This helps industries to monitor their air emissions regularly and to take measures, to ensure compliance with the prescribed air emission standards.

By implementing regulations, standards and having tests, factories have to abide certain rules and meet certain criteria. Those who failed to meet the standards are penalised and have to pay heavy fines. I feel that this system will benefit air pollution in Singapore greatly because factories are mindful of what they should or not release in order not to pay the fines or be “black-listed”. Also, enforcing rules are inexpensive ways of controlling gases emissions, only the co-operation of the people has to be sought for.

Motor Vehicles

Motor vehicles are a major source of air pollution. To control the emissions generated by motor vehicles, NEA regulates the type and quality of fuel that can be used in Singapore, and also sets minimum exhaust emission standards for all vehicles.

NEA takes stringent enforcement actions against smoky vehicles on the roads. Regulation 19 of the Environmental Protection and Management (Vehicular Emissions) Regulations stipulates that it is an offence for any person to use or permit the use of any smoky vehicle on the road.

It is the responsibility of every owner of a vehicle to ensure that the vehicle is in good condition before using it on the road. Besides carrying out proper servicing and maintenance of the vehicle regularly, the driver must also not overload the vehicle or drag the engine of the vehicle while driving. For 2-stroke motorcycles, the cause of white smoke emissions is usually due to addition of lubricating oil in excess of the amount specified in the vehicle manufacturer’s manual.

Again, law enforcing requires more of the peoples’ cooperation than funds hence its economically-friendly and would also prove beneficial since drivers will most likely keep their vehicles in good conditions and go for vehicle-checks than pay additional taxes or fines.

Off-Road Diesel Engines

With effect from 1 July 2012, all off-road diesel engines to be imported for use in Singapore are to comply with the EU Stage II, US Tier II or Japan Tier I off-road diesel engine emission standards. Off-road diesel engines are any equipment or machinery that is equipped with diesel engines as the main or auxiliary prime mover and not registered with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) for use on public roads. Examples of off-road diesel engines include construction equipment such as cranes, excavators, forklifts and power generators. Diesel engines used in ships, railways, locomotives and aircraft do not fall under this regulation.

All newly-imported off-road diesel engines, both new or used, intended for use in Singapore must comply with the stipulated emission standards with effect from 1 July 2012. This regulation includes those with engine power above 560kW. The engine or off-road diesel equipment can be sent to an overseas or Singapore accredited laboratory for an emissions test according to the ISO 8178 standards.

Allowing only specific types of diesel engines ensures standardisation. People either abide the rule set or pay fines. This form of using money to control people from releasing harmful chemicals and gases encourage Singaporeans to play their role in managing air pollution and the results could be as good as buying or building new machines which help clear toxic air.  

Effectiveness of Singapore’s management on Land Pollution

Effectiveness of Singapore’s management on Land Pollution

Land pollution is caused by the improper waste treatment and that could lead to damaging the Earth and Human Health. Here’s the methods Singapore is using in response to the problems pertaining to Land Pollution.

1.     Solid waste disposal infrastructure

In the past, Singapore relied on a number of landfills around the island to handle the solid waste generated on the island. However, in the late 1970s, an alternative method of solid waste disposal has to be introduced due to land constraints. Waste-to-energy incineration was found to be the most cost effective option as it can reduce waste volume by over 90%, and in 1978, the first waste-to-energy (WTE) plant was opened. Most WtE processes produce electricity with incineration plants directly through combustion,  Today, the solid waste disposal infrastructure consists of the four WTE plants located at Tuas, Senoko, Tuas South and an offshore sanitary landfill, Semakau Landfill.

This method, though produce different forms of energy, can pose a threat to the environment since emissions include toxic ashes, other harmful gases and pollutants can enter the atmosphere, turning rain acidic. Besides, natural resources like fuel and oil are used to burn the waste and produce the energy. However, over the years newer and more environmental-friendly incinerators are built and they are more efficient in disposing waste with less damage brought upon Earth. Despite the infrastructures being expensive and hard to built and labour have to be skilled to work with these high-tech machines, they prove to be extremely useful and effective in the long-run.

2.     Public waste collection

Public waste collectors (PWCs) provide services to designated domestic and trade premises in the island’s nine geographical sectors. This service includes the collection of recyclable materials from households to the National Recycling Programme. There are currently four PWCs operating in Singapore, as indicated on the map below.

To have separate and collect recyclable materials from all the other thrash and have them sent to be recycled and reuse again is a good way to practise the 3Rs often preached. Having allocated PWCs to different parts of the city proves this system of waste collection to be extremely organised. But, it requires the cooperation of the community. The residents have to dump their rubbish at the right collection area for them to collect.

3.     General waste collection

General waste collectors (GWCs) in Singapore are licensed by NEA. GWCs primarily serve commercial and industrial premises.

There are three classes of GWCs: Class A, B and C. Each class of GWC is licensed to handle a certain type of waste, as follows:

· Class A: Inorganic waste (construction debris, excavated earth, tree trunks, discarded furniture, appliances, wooden crates, pallets and other bulky items) and recyclables from residential property and other premises covered in section 10(1)(c) of the Environmental Public Health Act

· Class B: Organic waste (food and other putrefiable waste from domestic, trade and industrial premises, markets and food centres)

· Class C: Sludge and grease (sludge from water treatment plants, grease interceptors, water-seal latrines, sewage treatment plants, septic tanks and waste from sanitary conveniences in ships and aircrafts)

By categorising them in different classes, this method can be very efficient in disposing the waste. (The waste in class A might possess very different qualities as the waste in class C and therefore, require very different ways of disposal). Hence, when they are allocated to different classes, different solutions will be used to overcome them, increasing the effectiveness of waste disposal. But, this method will require much labour to sift out different materials to different sections is carrying ways (e.g. handpicked or using machines like cranes) and the machines can be expensive.

.
 4.  Fines imposed on Illegal dumping

The illegal dumping of waste of any kind is a serious offence. It pollutes the environment and can be a hazard to public health.

People obviously would not want to handle all the additional taxes and bills, thus they will abide the rules and avoid having to pay fines. Using Money is a good way to “control” the people as the regulations are heavily enforced that way. But still, the cooperation of the community has to be sought for.

In my opinion, Singapore has quite a good system of managing the Land Pollution problems; they are proving to be effective through the results obtained over the past few years.

Sources:

http://app2.nea.gov.sg/topics_waterpollution.aspx

Electronic Pollution

Besides pollution around the world in terms of dangerous gases or toxic substances, humanity is now facing a 21st century problem, one much more closer to every modern society - Electronic pollution.

Televisions, computers, mobile phones, radios etc. All these electronic devices may not seem harmful at first sight. However, imagine millions of households multiplied by the number of electronic devices you have in your own household today, think of all the electronic emissions and radio signals.

Day by day this problem is slowly progressing right under our noses, as the air further saturates with satellite broadcasts and such. Wireless remote controls... Radiation from microwaves... These electronic devices have been created for our ease, yet the amount of emissions being emitted into the air every second may just threaten our health. This problem is not widely acknowledged, and society today is overly complacent about this issue.

Several known effects due to this rising issue includes 'psychological complaints including confusion, panic, paranoia, strong mood swings and violent or aggressive behaviour'. 


Perhaps this modern problem is being brushed aside due to the sheer impossibility of convincing every man on Earth to refrain from using electronic devices which produce large amounts of negative emissions. Technology has become such a large part of mankind that some people would not be able to survive without it. Another possible reason may be because of the cost involved to design radiation-reducing phenomenons of sorts. After all, in my opinion, scientists today would very much prefer investing money into curing cancer, a world-known illness, rather than preventing 'oh-so-dangerous electronic pollution'.

Air pollution in China

China's pollution now is not so much because of mining, but from coal-fired power plants, heavy industry, large amounts of construction being done and its traffic congestions. The quality of China's air is declining due to the increase in cars and heavy industries which emit harmful gases into the air, polluting it. 

These two pictures show the difference between air pollution in the Beijing Vs the air condition it is in now.

China tries to improve the air quality in Beijing by closing down factories and controlling the number of cars on the road by allowing them to drive on certain days. Chemical plants, power stations and factories that did not close down, had to cut emissions by 30% and construction work there was temporally stopped. Public transport prices were dropped to encourage people to take public transport and discourage people, at the same time, to purchase cars. These efforts by the Chinese government has significantly decreased the amount of air pollution in the city.

Pollution in India

India is one of the top 10 countries that face water pollution. Three billion litres of waste is thrown into the Yamuna River in Delhi, India and this is what the residents in the area have to deal with every day. Can you imagine yourself trying to row your boat to the other end of the river? It is clearly difficult as the entire surface layer of the river is filled with trash. Can you even think of what more waste and trash lies underneath the surface? This problem of pollution in the Yamuna River is a small scale of pollution in India as 80% of the waste in India goes to nearby rivers and other bodies of water for disposal. It's like multiplying the amount of pollution in Yamuna River by more than 10 times! Thus, more than 128 million people in India lack access to safe drinking water.

The government has spent half a billion US dollars to clean the river, however, due to its neglect of sufficient sanitation measures and its failure in creating a functional sewage system. The major problem that the people in India face is the bad condition of the city's sewer system which enables waste to be delivered to the sewage treatment plants.

People find it interesting that the river Ganges is known to be sacred to the Hindus as a goddess whose purity cleanses the sins of the faithful, but it still remains as one of the most polluted rivers in the world.

This picture shows a boy in India swimming through the garbage and waste which pollutes many of India's rivers

This picture shows a boy on a boat that could be picking up litter or searching through the litter for something of value which he can sell. In the background is litter on the surface of the river.