Smog and the Rockwool impact
A healthy life requires ample supplies of fresh air.The combustion of fuels is the source of many types of air pollution.
According to the World Health Organisation every year 800,000 deaths are attributable to urban air pollution that is largely the result of the combustion of fossil fuels for transport, power generation and other human activities. Alarmingly this combustion is increasing.
Particles and smog (photochemical ozone) can cause serious lung diseases and cardio-respiratory mortality. Asthma patients are among the high-risk groups.
Smog kills thousands of people every year. Insulation and other green technologies are vital in order to minimise the air pollution from chimneys and exhaust pipes.
The impact of our products
A Rockwool loft insulation product will, in its lifetime, save more energy and thus smog components than were emitted during its production. Insulation alone cannot eliminate the problem of smog. But it can make a contribution, especially where sulphur rich fuels are used, combustion temperatures are low or particle filters inadequate. The complexity of photochemical processes prevents a reliable quantifi cation of the precise smog reduction potential.
The impact of our production
Carbon monoxide (CO), formaldehyde and phenol are the main contributors to the smog emissions from Rockwool production. The CO comes from the melting process whereas the phenol and formaldehyde stem from the small amounts of resin binder used to stabilise the stone wool fibres. The Rockwool factories use afterburner plants and other environmental equipment to minimise smog emissions. At temperatures exceeding 700°C, most of the airborne organic remnants from the production process are burnt off.
In 2004 world market shortages in supplies of high quality coke resulted in higher CO emissions. Nevertheless, the Group has been able to reduce its total smog emissions since 2001.
