Strengthening Regulations on Fine Industrial Particulate Matter

Soot pollution in the industrial sector primarily originates from power plants, cement plants, refineries, and vehicles. To mitigate this issue, the industry can adopt pollution-control technologies such as scrubbers in power plants. Combustion sources release particulate emissions that comprise agglomerated chains of carbonaceous spherules, which adsorb other kinds like PAH, partially burned volatile fuel fragments, and ash. It is worth noting that small ash fragments can exist independently from the carbonaceous material. Visible smoke is composed of both particulate matter (soot) and aerosols of volatile varieties.

The core of the particulate matter can be identified as either elemental carbon or black carbon. Elemental carbon is typically quantified using thermal techniques, while black carbon is measured using optical methods. The absorbed components are categorized as organic carbon. Although elemental carbon and black carbon are sometimes used interchangeably, differences may arise if the organic carbon fraction contains light-absorbing substances such as tars. The ratio of black carbon to organic carbon is influenced by the type of fuel, combustion conditions, and sampling temperature. Samples collected at higher temperatures will exhibit lower levels of absorbed organic carbon compared to samples collected at room temperature due to the semi-volatile nature of organic carbon, which tends to be released in gaseous form rather than being retained as particulate matter.

Black carbon plays a significant role in the process of global warming due to its exceptional ability to absorb light and warm its surroundings. However, the impact of black carbon is not uniform on a global scale as its concentrations vary greatly across different regions and time periods. When black carbon is present in the atmosphere, it contributes to the warming effect by converting incoming solar radiation into heat, similar to how asphalt surfaces generate heat islands in urban areas. Additionally, black carbon affects cloud formation and influences regional weather patterns, including rainfall distribution. Moreover, when black carbon particles settle on ice and snow, they diminish the surface's capacity to reflect sunlight, resulting in increased heating of the surface.

Black carbon is a constituent of fine particulate matter air pollution, which is the primary environmental factor contributing to adverse health effects and untimely mortality. Due to their minuscule size, these particles possess the ability to deeply penetrate the respiratory system, thereby facilitating the transportation of harmful substances into the bloodstream. Long-term exposure to particulate air pollution is estimated to cause approximately 4 million deaths annually. Furthermore, air pollution has been associated with various health consequences, including premature mortality in adults suffering from heart and lung diseases, strokes, heart attacks, chronic respiratory ailments like bronchitis, exacerbated asthma, and other cardio-respiratory symptoms. Infants and children are also vulnerable to its detrimental effects, as this form of air pollution is responsible for the untimely demise of children due to acute lower respiratory infections such as pneumonia. Additionally, these particles have been detected in the lungs, livers, and brains of unborn babies, potentially impacting their early childhood development.