Systems and methods are provided involving abatement of effluents. Aspects of the invention may include starting an abatement system at a high level setting; receiving an effluent having an undesirable material at the abatement system; abating the undesirable material using the abatement system at the high level setting; receiving information about the effluent; analyzing the information to determine an optimal setting; adjusting the high level setting to the optimal setting; and receiving more of the effluent having more of the undesirable material, which then may be attenuated. The optimal setting corresponds to a selected setting efficiency. Numerous other aspects are provided.