Working conditions differ depending on the employer, the position's specialization, and the job's location. An air quality engineer may be required to perform fieldwork, such as observing emission sources, but more often works in an office, determining the factors responsible for airborne pollutants and devising ways to prevent them. Coworkers may include other environmental engineers, lab technicians, and office personnel. An engineer may discuss specific problems with a company's economic planners and develop programs to make that company more competitive environmentally and economically. Those who monitor emissions have considerable responsibility and, therefore, considerable pressure to do their job well—failure to maintain industry standards could cost their employer government fines. Engineers in some consulting firms may be required to help sell the system they develop or service.
Most engineers work a standard 40-hour week, working overtime to solve critical problems quickly. A large part of the job for most air quality engineers is keeping current with federal regulations, industry and regional standards, and developments in their area of expertise. Some employers require standard business attire, while some require more fieldwork from their engineers and may not enforce rigorous dress codes. Unlike water and soil pollution, air pollution can sometimes be difficult to measure quantitatively if the source is unknown. Major pollutants are generally easily identified (although not so easily eliminated). Still, traces of small "leaks" may change with the wind and make for time-consuming, deliberate, and frustrating work.
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