The management of an environmental pollutanat. Management Essay

Middlesex University
PRS3702 Environment Assessment and Management
Content Page
1 Executive SummaryP.3
2 IntroductionP.4 – P.5
3 Environmental ImpactsP.5 – P.9
4 Applicable StandardsP.9 – P.11
5 Carbon Monoxide Environmental ManagementP.11 – P.14
6 Recommendation and ConclusionP.14 – P.15
7 Reference ListP.16 – P.17
1 Executive Summary
This report details the problem of carbon monoxide emissions in local breweries, with a focus on a hypothetical Brewery X located in Asheville, North Carolina. It follows that breweries, especially the local craft brewery types, are susceptible to emitting carbon monoxide because they lack adequate engineering and safety procedures to contain the gas like those of larger beer manufacturers (Shin & Searcy, 2018). In a broader perspective, carbon monoxide emissions have negative environmental impacts when the gas oxidizes to form carbon dioxide or as noted by Voiland (2015), increases the abundance of methane in the atmosphere, thus causing global warming and climate change. In this regard, activities like the combustion of coal, gas, and oil are responsible for the disturbance of the natural carbon cycle and consequently, the adverse effects of global warming and climate change like rising sea levels, desertification, flooding across the globe and destruction of biodiversity (Canadell et al., 2010). Moreover, workers at Brewery X have to deal with the high concentration of carbon monoxide in indoor settings, which leads to respiratory and central nervous system damages or even death. In the foregoing, this report discusses the applicable standards that apply to carbon monoxide emissions, notably the OSH Act in the U.S, which specifies that the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for carbon monoxide in any workplace must not exceed 50 ppm for air averaged over 8 hours (U.S. Department of Labor, 2012). Additionally, an Environmental Management System (EMS) is presented, which will help reduce the carbon monoxide emissions at Brewery X. Accordingly, the EMS is based on the applicable policy and legislative standards for the Brewery Industry in America. Such will deal with the current environmental issue, majorly uncontrolled emissions of carbon monoxide.
2 Introduction
Managing Carbon Monoxide Emissions at Brewery X
Background
When carbon is burnt in the absence of oxygen, an intermediate form of carbon dioxide known as carbon monoxide (CO) is formed. The gas has adverse environmental effects as it contributes to global warming and climate change, mainly when it oxidizes into carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Moreover, the gas is very poisonous when in high concentration and can lead to unconsciousness or even death if inhaled. Carbon monoxide is evolved in local breweries through the burning of biogas or the use of hydrocarbon fuels under low oxygen concentration. It follows that the gas is likely to accumulate within a brewery if carbon fuels are combusted under low oxygen concentration. Since high levels of the gas are difficult to detect for unsuspecting workers, they are susceptible to poisoning within their workplaces. Further, the risk of carbon monoxide is high in local breweries such as the hypothetical Brewery X ...