Wet scrubbers can control specific air pollutants. Industries producing such pollutants should consider wet scrubbers to minimize environmental impact and personal safety risks. They can help reduce any of the following air pollutants.

1. Inorganic fumes, vapors and gases

Many industries use wet scrubbers to control airborne fumes, vapors and gases. If these inorganic pollutants enter the atmosphere in large quantities, they can cause environmental damage and adverse health effects. Inorganic gases that wet scrubbers can remove from the air include some of the most harmful air pollutants designated by the Environmental Protection Agency. Some of the most common such contaminants include:

• Chromic acid.

• hydrogen sulfide.

• ammonia.

• chloride.

• Fluoride.

• Sulphur dioxide.

  
  

2. Volatile Organic Compounds

Wet scrubbers can also remove volatile organic compounds from the air. VOCs are man-made chemicals produced during specific manufacturing processes, especially those used to make paints, pharmaceuticals, and refrigerants. They are trapped in specific solids or liquids and released into the air over time. Some VOC chemicals can cause serious short- and long-term health effects. The manufacture of the following materials releases VOCs:

• paint.

• paint remover.

• Varnish

• fuel.

• Industrial cleaning supplies.

• Pest Control Solutions.

• building materials.

• adhesive.

Wet scrubbers help minimize industrial VOC levels and create safer, cleaner air.

3. Particulate matter

Other air pollutants include particulate matter, which includes a wide range of solid particles and liquid droplets. While some are large enough to be seen with the naked eye, others are insignificant. PM can be as large as 10 microns and as small as 2.5 microns or less. For perspective, a human hair is typically about 50 to 70 microns in diameter, 30 times larger than the smallest PM particles. PM can include any of the following, given a size of 10 microns or less:

• dust.

• dirt.

• soot.

• smokes.

• pollen.

Because PMs are so diverse, their sources and levels of harm vary. Some PM can cause health problems if inhaled - if small enough, they can even enter the bloodstream. Large amounts of PM can cause blurring and reduced visibility. Because of these negative effects, regulating PM levels is an important aspect of air pollution mitigation. Wet scrubbers can help remove PM from the air.

4. Hazardous Air Pollutants

Hazardous air pollutants, also known as toxic air pollutants, have proven or suspected serious health effects. They can cause cancer, birth defects and other problems. Some examples of HAP include the following.

Benzene: Benzene is a pollutant in gasoline. It is colorless or pale yellow and has a sweet taste. It is highly flammable and evaporates rapidly. Inhaling or ingesting benzene can cause internal cells to malfunction. It impairs the ability of the bone marrow to produce enough red blood cells, causing anemia. Altered blood levels can also weaken the immune system.

Perchloroethylene: Some dry cleaning facilities release this pollutant into the air. In metalworking facilities, perchloroethylene cleans and degreases metals. It is colorless and non-flammable, and has a sweet taste. High levels of exposure can cause nervous system failure, leading to loss of consciousness or death.

Dichloromethane: Dichloromethane, also known as dichloromethane, is a solvent and paint stripper. Many industries use this chemical. Like perchloroethylene, it is colorless and sweet. Exposure may cause cancer, suffocation or cognitive impairment.

Because HAPs have been shown to be dangerous, preventing them from entering the atmosphere is critical to public health and safety. Wet scrubbers help keep the environment safer by removing these chemicals from the air.