Reducing PM Levels Causing Pollution
Quarrying activities and stone cutting release dust to the environment that causes pollution. The dust settles on not only land and plants but also water surfaces, which affects the aqua living things. The activities also affect fertile land soils through the excavation processes leading to soil erosion and infertility to the land. The damages caused to the biodiversity last for more than a decade since the small dust particles do not evaporate in the air but rather settles on the ground. As a result, quarries need to take considerable measures in managing the PM levels exposed to the eco-system
A green belt surrounding is recommended within the environments where the quarries are located to control pollution. A green belt surrounding involves the planting of many trees that usually have broad leaves that would help in restricting the quarry dust from spreading (Sayara et al., 2016). Also, the trees would help in restoring the fertility of the land as well as prevent erosion after the mining activities.. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
A research conducted by Alp & Akmirza (2014) indicated that mining companies could shift their turning and crushing processes to closed systems whereby they can trap the dust collected and release the not harmful particles that can be absorbed. Turning-crushing processes that are done in the open air lead to the highest rate in pollution as the wind direction blows away the large PM particles (Alp & Akmirza 2014). Quarries may also consult environmentally friendly asphalt roads, and materials used are recycled from the quarries. The asphalt road would reduce pollution caused by PM during the transportation of materials from the mining centers to other locations. Alp & Akmirza (2014) further state that bale-cloths and moisturizing of minerals excavated from the quarries would play a significant role in reducing PM emissions of up to 80%.
References
Alp, K., & Akmirza, İ. (2014). EFFECTS OF QUARRY OPERATION PROCESSES TO AIR QUALITY IN ISTANBUL CEBECI ZONE ACCORDING TO PM10 EMISSIONS. Environmental Science and Technology, 1, 346.
Sayara, T., Hamdan, Y., & Basheer-Salimia, R. (2016). Impact of air pollution from quarrying and stone cutting industries on agriculture and plant biodiversity.