Final answer:
Impervious surfaces do not directly emit air pollutants, but they impact the environment through increased runoff, flooding, and contributing to urban heat islands.
Step-by-step explanation:
One way in which impervious surfaces do not negatively affect the environment is by directly reducing air quality. Although they contribute to environmental issues in many ways, they do not emit pollutants into the air themselves.
Impervious surfaces, such as concrete and asphalt, contribute to a variety of environmental challenges. They prevent water from soaking into the ground, which can lead to increased runoff and flooding. This runoff often carries pollutants from urban areas into local waterways, impacting aquatic ecosystems.
Additionally, impervious surfaces contribute to the 'urban heat island' effect, raising temperatures in cities, which in turn can increase energy consumption for cooling. However, they do not contribute directly to air pollution by releasing emissions; instead, they impact air quality indirectly through urban heat islands and by promoting the use of motor vehicles.