Reducing environmental pollution caused by construction plant

Morledge, R and Jackson, F, 2001. Reducing environmental pollution caused by construction plant. Environmental Management and Health, 12 (2), pp. 191-206. ISSN 0956-6163

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Abstract

Quantifiable data produced in a national report by the Environment Agency of England and Wales entitled ‘Water pollution incidents in England and Wales 1997’ and published by the Stationery Office in 1998, identifies that of over 3,723 substantiated pollution incidents across England and Wales in 1997. Within the generic sector classed as ‘Industry’ the construction industry was the most frequent polluter responsible for 22% of all substantiated water-related pollution incidents in that sector. The report also identified that a significant number (28%) of all substantiated pollution incidents across England and Wales are directly attributable to mineral-based fuels and oils many of which are used extensively within the construction industry. This paper seeks to locate the possible causes and effects for some of that oil-based pollution, discuss the issues and identifies a unique and radical Client-motivated solution within the UK to reduce and mitigate the undesirable impacts upon the environment. Evidence produced by the oil industry shows the enormous amount of one particularly aggressive pollutant –hydraulic oil, – which remains annually, unaccounted for. Hydraulic oil is used in most tracked earthmoving machinery; the sort of machinery most closely associated with construction work carried out near to watercourses. Biodegradable hydraulic oil is much more considerate to the environment, but is more expensive and not usually installed in new plant and machinery. The paper argues that on a life cycle basis the use of biodegradable oil is viable and feasible and that there are many external factors that make its usage desirable.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Environmental Management and Health
Creators:	Morledge, R. and Jackson, F.
Publisher:	Emerald
Date:	2001
Volume:	12
Number:	2
ISSN:	0956-6163
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1108/09566160110389933 DOI
Rights:	© Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Divisions:	Schools > School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment
Record created by:	EPrints Services
Date Added:	09 Oct 2015 10:47
Last Modified:	23 Aug 2016 09:12
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/18206

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