[11]. The first known case of metal pollution on a
global scale occurred about 2000 years ago during
the Golden Age of Roman civilization. Analysis
of Greenland ice cores showed significant
increases in atmospheric lead concentrations
long before the industrial revolution. The Romans
processed 80,000 tons of lead annually, a rate that
would not be reached again until the eighteenth
century. The lead was used for making water pipes
and lining baths and for pots and dishes. The
inefficient smelting process used at the time led
to the emission of around 5% of the annual production into the atmosphere [12]. A similar phenomenon has been observed for copper at the time
when metal coins spread across the Ancient Mediterranean. Due to the primitive smelting technologies, around 15% of all processed copper ended
up in the air, peaking 2000 years ago with the
astonishing total of 2300 tons released in the
atmosphere annually [13]. More recently, soot
from combustion was seen to impact evolution.
Before the industrial revolution, the number of
black and white moths in Europe was similar;
however, at some point, the population of white
moths declined significantly. Bernard Kettlewell
at the University of Oxford theorized that black
moths blended more easily with their surroundings allowing them to escape predation, because
of widespread pollution and soot. The increase in
black moths is an example of one way that pollution from industry has affected the world we live
in [14]. Unfortunately, despite ongoing advances
in technology and a general rise in human knowledge, industrial pollution remains a serious problem for mankind and the Earth’s environment.
Studies show air pollution increases the risk of
pulmonary disease and cardiovascular disease and
decreases quality of life and productivity during
working hours [15, 16]. It increases medical costs
and cuts life expectancy [17]. Moreover, the
industrial sector is one of the largest contributors
to air pollution. However, recent European studies
have shown decoupling of industrial production
from emission of pollution. Industrial emissions
have significantly decreased since 2000, whereas
production has remained steady. This can be
attributed to EU legislation and regulation in the
areas of emission limits and pollution control
technologies [18]. This entry will introduce industrial air pollution and its impact on the environment and human health. We will present pollution
control technologies currently used by industry
and discuss their application, efficiency, and
advantages. We will also discuss environmental
policies and regulation of the industrial sector as
well as the economy of air pollution control and
its current and future state.
Chemical Description of Pollution
We will divide pollution into four classes
depending on shared physical and chemical properties, atmospheric sources, and transformations.
Reduced compounds typically have a biological
origin in reduced material produced by photosynthesis, including fossil material used as fuel.
Reduced compounds as pollution therefore often
result from industrial processes using hydrocarbons, for example, natural gas leaks, solvent and
fuel evaporation, and biomass. Oxidized compounds are typically produced by combustion
and may be water-soluble acids. Moreover, the
particulate material in aerosols may derive from
primary emissions, or it may form from oxidation
products produced within the atmosphere. Finally,
industrial processes emit refractory elements and
compounds such as airborne heavy metals associated with particulate matter. Despite their low
concentrations, they can contribute significantly
to environmental degradation and affect human
health. We will describe particulate matter, oxidized compounds, reduced compounds, secondary organic aerosol, and heavy metals in more
detail in the following sections.
Particulate Matter
Particulate matter (PM) is a pollutant consisting of
a mixture of solid and liquid particles of inorganic
and organic substances suspended in the air
[22]. PM is often divided into PM 10 and PM 2.5 .
PM 10 is the total mass of aerosol particles with a
diameter of 10 mm or less, and PM 2.5 has a diameter of 2.5 mm or less. The different sizes have a
diverse impact on health, for example, PM 10 is
filtered by the upper respiratory tract, while PM 2.5
Industrial Emissions Control Technologies: Introduction
479
global scale occurred about 2000 years ago during
the Golden Age of Roman civilization. Analysis
of Greenland ice cores showed significant
increases in atmospheric lead concentrations
long before the industrial revolution. The Romans
processed 80,000 tons of lead annually, a rate that
would not be reached again until the eighteenth
century. The lead was used for making water pipes
and lining baths and for pots and dishes. The
inefficient smelting process used at the time led
to the emission of around 5% of the annual production into the atmosphere [12]. A similar phenomenon has been observed for copper at the time
when metal coins spread across the Ancient Mediterranean. Due to the primitive smelting technologies, around 15% of all processed copper ended
up in the air, peaking 2000 years ago with the
astonishing total of 2300 tons released in the
atmosphere annually [13]. More recently, soot
from combustion was seen to impact evolution.
Before the industrial revolution, the number of
black and white moths in Europe was similar;
however, at some point, the population of white
moths declined significantly. Bernard Kettlewell
at the University of Oxford theorized that black
moths blended more easily with their surroundings allowing them to escape predation, because
of widespread pollution and soot. The increase in
black moths is an example of one way that pollution from industry has affected the world we live
in [14]. Unfortunately, despite ongoing advances
in technology and a general rise in human knowledge, industrial pollution remains a serious problem for mankind and the Earth’s environment.
Studies show air pollution increases the risk of
pulmonary disease and cardiovascular disease and
decreases quality of life and productivity during
working hours [15, 16]. It increases medical costs
and cuts life expectancy [17]. Moreover, the
industrial sector is one of the largest contributors
to air pollution. However, recent European studies
have shown decoupling of industrial production
from emission of pollution. Industrial emissions
have significantly decreased since 2000, whereas
production has remained steady. This can be
attributed to EU legislation and regulation in the
areas of emission limits and pollution control
technologies [18]. This entry will introduce industrial air pollution and its impact on the environment and human health. We will present pollution
control technologies currently used by industry
and discuss their application, efficiency, and
advantages. We will also discuss environmental
policies and regulation of the industrial sector as
well as the economy of air pollution control and
its current and future state.
Chemical Description of Pollution
We will divide pollution into four classes
depending on shared physical and chemical properties, atmospheric sources, and transformations.
Reduced compounds typically have a biological
origin in reduced material produced by photosynthesis, including fossil material used as fuel.
Reduced compounds as pollution therefore often
result from industrial processes using hydrocarbons, for example, natural gas leaks, solvent and
fuel evaporation, and biomass. Oxidized compounds are typically produced by combustion
and may be water-soluble acids. Moreover, the
particulate material in aerosols may derive from
primary emissions, or it may form from oxidation
products produced within the atmosphere. Finally,
industrial processes emit refractory elements and
compounds such as airborne heavy metals associated with particulate matter. Despite their low
concentrations, they can contribute significantly
to environmental degradation and affect human
health. We will describe particulate matter, oxidized compounds, reduced compounds, secondary organic aerosol, and heavy metals in more
detail in the following sections.
Particulate Matter
Particulate matter (PM) is a pollutant consisting of
a mixture of solid and liquid particles of inorganic
and organic substances suspended in the air
[22]. PM is often divided into PM 10 and PM 2.5 .
PM 10 is the total mass of aerosol particles with a
diameter of 10 mm or less, and PM 2.5 has a diameter of 2.5 mm or less. The different sizes have a
diverse impact on health, for example, PM 10 is
filtered by the upper respiratory tract, while PM 2.5
Industrial Emissions Control Technologies: Introduction
479