What are the main industrial pollutants that can damage both human health and the environment? Anyone who works in a factory knows that processing and treatment result in potentially dangerous fumes, dust and oily substances that, in the long term, could have negative consequences for both human health and the planet, but also have a negative impact on the lifespan of the plants and the quality of the products manufactured.
It is very important to make a distinction between the different types of pollutants, in particular to identify their physical state. Starting from this categorisation, it will then be possible to structure strategies and use specific plants for their abatement.
Three macro categories of pollutants can be identified, namely:
- Dust and dry smokes, mainly from metalworking, but also from materials subjected to cutting, milling and other processes that change their original appearance.
- Oil mists, formed as a result of processes involving oils and emulsions.
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are mixtures of molecules containing different functional groups which, when combined, have different physical and chemical behaviours but share a high volatility.
These, depending on their origin, are divided into:- Anthropogenic and man-made compounds from petroleum and combustion, such as benzene, toluene, methane, carbon tetrachloride, ethane.
- Biogenic compounds of natural origin, i.e. terpenes contained in plant essential oils
- Anthropogenic and biogenic compounds such as isoprene.
Industrial pollutants: their origins and risks
There are a number of pollutants that are better known, both for their prevalence and for the risks they pose to health and the environment. These are listed below, to better understand the importance of implementing strategies to eliminate them.
- Fine dust, which we hear so much about, is produced by industrial processes, but also results from atmospheric particles dispersed in the environment. As well as causing acid rain, they are extremely dangerous to health as they can cause serious respiratory diseases, ranging from rhinitis to coughs, asthma and, in the worst cases, tumours.
- Carbon dioxide, closely linked to the use of fossil fuels and the main cause of the greenhouse effect
- Ozone, a product of industrial processes, storage and distribution of hydrocarbons. In addition to photochemical smog, as with particulate matter, it is a major cause of respiratory diseases.
- Sulphur dioxide, which results from the combustion of fuels containing sulphur, but is also produced by power plants, in crude oil processing and during metal smelting. The presence of this pollutant negatively affects the respiratory tract, but also the environment by causing acid rain.
- Nitrogen oxides, derived from combustion processes in motor vehicles, heating plants and power stations. This pollutant causes respiratory diseases in humans, but also damages the environment with acid rain and photochemical smog.
- Polycyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons, pollutants that can have different natures resulting from industrial processes, domestic heating, energy production, oil processing, wood and organic materials. Their presence causes respiratory diseases and cancers, eye irritation and photochemical smog.
- Coolant fluids that can be further added with chemicals and originate mainly from metalworking. These cause toxic and highly carcinogenic fumes, which can also lead to the development of dermatitis, allergies and various respiratory diseases.