Development of fine dust pollution and countermeasures
Particulate matter has always existed on Earth due to its many natural sources. However, human activities have increased the emission of particulate matter. However, the problem was much more acute in earlier times than it is today - do my assignment . In Germany as a This enormous decrease in pollution is mainly due to the modernization of industrial and domestic combustion plants and the shutdown of industrial production in the former GDR.
The overstatement of the particulate matter problem in the media is due to the fact that EU Directive 1999/30 / EC has been in force since the beginning of 2005. This stipulates that cities must introduce directives if a limit value of 50 µg of particulate matter This will probably be the case in almost all major German cities.
However, it is difficult to take effective countermeasures immediately. Natural (soil erosion, pollen) and many industrial sources of particulate matter cannot be stopped. Possibilities are offered by road traffic, which contributes to exceeding the EU limit values, especially in cities. Since soot particles are released particularly by diesel vehicles, driving bans for diesel vehicles are being considered - chemistry problem solver . However, these would have to apply to entire cities and otherwise drivers would take detours and thus shift the problem to neighboring districts.
A second option is to equip diesel vehicles with a soot filter. These filters can remove up to 99% of the soot particles from the exhaust gas. However, the corresponding technology is only widespread for passenger cars and not for trucks, which emit significantly more particulate matter.
This means that the possibilities for reducing particulate matter pollution in the short term have almost been exhausted. In the long term, the problem could be solved by using alternative energy sources.
However, it should be pointed out once again that in earlier times, dust emissions were many times higher than they are today. Despite all the undisputed health risks, a sense of proportion must be maintained in the discussion. It was not the sudden increase in fine dust pollution that woke the journalists in their leather armchairs, but the introduction of an EU directive.
By the way, everyone can minimize their personal exposure to particulate matter very easily. According to an Italian study - https://domyhomework.club/english-homework/ , the smoke from one cigarette contains as much particulate matter as a diesel passenger car emits on a 200 km trip. Avoiding cigarette smoke is therefore at least as effective as the soot filter in diesel vehicles.
See also:
Basic information about motion
Rene Descartes: Origin and education