Pollutant release registers are key tools to help curb air pollution
- Published
- Accepted
- Subject Areas
- Science Policy, Atmospheric Chemistry, Environmental Impacts
- Keywords
- Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs), Air Pollution, Particulate Matter , Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI)
- Copyright
- © 2019 Walker
- Licence
- This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, reproduction and adaptation in any medium and for any purpose provided that it is properly attributed. For attribution, the original author(s), title, publication source (PeerJ Preprints) and either DOI or URL of the article must be cited.
- Cite this article
- 2019. Pollutant release registers are key tools to help curb air pollution. PeerJ Preprints 7:e27983v1 https://doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.27983v1
Abstract
Recent articles highlighting potential weakening of air pollution regulations in the United States should be a cause for concern for public health worldwide. Environmental regulations to curb air pollution, particularly fine-particle pollution, should be based on sound scientific evidence, not politics. Unfortunately, members of the public seldom read scientific articles published in reputable journals, but they do listen to politicians. However, members of the public can learn more about atmospheric pollutant releases, including fine-particulate matter from industrial facilities under ‘right-to-know’ legislation and public disclosure principles, using Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs). PRTRs are a key policy tools designed to curb air pollution and are used widely in many countries and help support enforcement of environmental pollution control regulations. The US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) launched the first PRTR, the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) in 1987 and Canada followed suit with the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) in 1993. Whilst PRTRs have been criticised for data accuracy and under reporting, they are still effective tools to curb air pollution through increased public understanding and engagement in decision-making.
Author Comment
This is a preprint submission to PeerJ Preprints.