When going to the mall or any commercial complex, one must be particular about the condition of the parking lots. Parking lots can be hazardous when not maintained properly. Ultimately, security is the usual concern for most people. Choice of parking lots would be those that are not isolated or those that have security guards roving the area. The parking lot must be well lit to avoid any untoward thefts.
Although these are valid concerns, it should stop there. People should also be meticulous about the cleanliness and condition of parking lots. First, parking lots, particularly those that are covered like basement parking spaces and parking buildings, must be well ventilated. Smoke emissions from car engines are hazardous to a person's health especially when they are enclosed in an area. These emissions can also settle on the ground as particulate matter which also contains toxic substances. These sediments can become airborne and cause serious health risks.
Particulate matter measures ten micrometers and below and can easily enter the nose and mouth eventually reaching a person's lungs. Sediments can also be transported as runoffs during rainfall. Particles, that carry toxic substances with them, end up in natural waterways posing danger to drinking water sources, fishes and other wildlife. Second, the high average of vehicles that use parking lots in a day also indicates a high susceptibility for foreign debris that can accumulate within the area. Aside from this, worn out tires of some vehicles or engine oil leaks can contribute to the build up of pollutant load.
Cities in Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada understand the perils of a poorly maintained parking lot. Data from various studies have shown a high pollutant load that comes from parking lots. Therefore, parking lot sweeping is carried out regularly to maintain cleanliness and decrease any environmental hazard. An example would be the city of Brampton in GTA which does parking lot sweeping to all city-owned establishments as part of their road maintenance. Privately owned lots are also advised to undergo regular parking lot sweeping based on environmental standards.
Parking lot sweeping is a lot like street sweeping. It also utilizes mechanical sweepers that automatically collect debris onto a hopper using automated brooms and a conveyor belt. To augment this process, flushing can also be done with water to loosen the accumulated dirt before the sweeper makes its pass. Experimental studies discovered that sweepers must be able to collect particles measuring ten micrometers or less to achieve a desirable decrease in pollutant load; hence, this brought forth the advent of modern-day sweepers. Vacuum assisted and regenerative air sweepers are some of the newer models that can gather very fine particles (PM10 Certified). Vacuum assisted sweepers make use of a vacuum which directly collects debris onto the hopper. Regenerative air sweepers, on the other hand, use blown air to loosen accumulated dirt on the ground. Aside from these modifications, new sweepers also exhibit better maneuverability. This is particularly important for parking lot sweeping since the work area is smaller with tighter turns.
Parking lots can really pose serious threats to people and to the environment. Fortunately, parking lot sweeping keeps our safety in check.
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