Survey of mathematical programming models in air pollution management

Abstract

This paper surveys the current state of the literature in management science/operations research approaches to air pollution management. After introducing suitable background we provide some of the institutional and legal framework needed to understand the continuing regulatory efforts in United States. Attention is then turned to mathematical programming models ranging from fairly simple deterministic linear programs to quite sophisticated stochastic models which have appeared in the literature dealing with these topics. This is followed by extensions reflecting some of the work we have undertaken in association with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, a regulatory agency in Texas. Application and potential use of models is the central theme of this survey. Issues for future research are presented at the end and an extensive list of publications is provided in the references at the end of the article. Principal air quality issues of local, national, and international concern are listed below in increasing order of difficulty based on the number of different types of pollutants and problems in quantification of the risks the pollutants pose: 1. 1. Stratospheric ozone depletion: one relatively easily controllable class of trace gases - ozone depleting chemicals, or ODCs, principally chloroflurocarbons (CFCs) — with relatively well quantified risks; 2. 2. Criteria pollutants: six common pollutants — ozone (O 3), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO 2), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2), lead (Pb), and particulate matter less than 10 microns in size (PM10) — regulated since 1970 in the U.S. and presenting relatively well quantified risks; 3. 3. Acid precipitation: two relatively easily controllable classes of trace gases — oxides of nitrogen (NO x ) and oxides of sulfur (SO x ) with relatively well quantified risks; 4. 4. Global warming/climate change: a few difficult to control trace gases — principally carbon dioxide (CO 2), methane (CH 4), nitrous oxide (N 2O), and CFCs — with highly uncertain risks; 5. 5. Toxics or HAPS (hazardous air pollutants): hundreds of types of gaseous chemicals and particles with uncertain risks; 6. 6. Somewhat dated, but nevertheless useful, is the following reference: Glossary on Air Pollution (Copenhagen, World Health Organization, 1980).