What Toxins Does Emissions Monitoring Usually Analyze In Most Work Places?

By Chuckie K. Andriewes


Emissions monitoring is important for the environment. It works to guarantee that the environment isn't overtaxed by the release of toxic gases and particulates. Much of this pollution is released from both large numbers of common machines like, cars or large facilities, such as factories, oil rigs or power plants. Most people think of the exhaust released from coal burning power plants when they think of emissions monitoring, but there are a number of ways gases and particulate matter get into the air. The most common airborne toxins are CO2, SO2 and NO2, all various oxides that occur as a by-product of chemically active processes.

Carbon Dioxide is an organic gas composed of two Oxygen atoms and one Carbon atom. This gas has always been present in the atmosphere in various minute amounts. Normally, it is a vital part of the oxygen cycle. Originally, it was CO2 that was the main stay of life on the earth and it was present in much higher amounts back then. It is becoming a problem as it is also a greenhouse gas. CO2 acts as an insulator, so as the gases increase the world will stop cooling down at night or during winter, all around the world. Since the O2, CO2 levels have balanced out it is important that we don't shove this system out of balance too much.

SO2 or Sulfur Dioxide is a much more toxic product made from one Sulfur atom and two Oxygen atoms. If you were to go into a room with this gas you would definitely notice an odor of rotten eggs. Active volcanoes are the most common sources of this gas in nature. When coal burns some of the sulfur it contains interact with oxygen to form sulfur dioxide. What makes SO2 so dangerous to our environment is that it is an ingredient in Acid Rain, a liquid that erodes buildings and destroys plant life. Monitoring of emissions can help power plants and manufacturing facilities to figure out how much sulfur is being released during their processes.

N02, also called, Nitrogen Dioxide is the most detrimental of the three gases mentioned here, and it's primarily a man-made gases produced through various combustion processes, nuclear testing and thermal power stations. Nitrogen Dioxide is made up of one nitrogen atom and two oxygen atoms in a covalent bond. It is very toxic to workers, but its strong smell means that it can usually be avoided. When the plants where this gas is produced make proper use of an infrared gas analyzer, the potential danger to workers and the environment is greatly reduced.

Obviously, there are lots of other potentially harmful gases released into the environment by combustion and manufacturing processes. They are amid our biggest fears as they cause the most damage or are released in the highest quantities. Monitoring the gases released from manufacturing facilities and power plants is essential to preventing the release of these gases into the atmosphere.




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