Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Energy pollution from fossil fuels in g/MJ
Fossil fuel
CO
2
SO
2
NO
x
Oil for oilfiring
75
0.5
0.15
Natural gas
57
0.01
0.16
Coal, low carbon content
110
0.03
0.16
Coal, high carbon content
93
0.01
0.16
Energy pollution is also caused by the transport of materials. The deciding
factors are the type of materials, weight, method of transport and distance
travelled.
Energy pollution from different forms of transport (g/ton km)
Type of transport
CO
2
SO
2
NO
x
Diesel: road
120
0.1
1.9
Diesel: water
50
0.3
0.7
Diesel: rail
50
0.05
0.75
(Source: Fossdal, 1995)
Material pollution relates mainly to pollutants in air, earth and water from the
material itself and from the constituents of the material when being worked, in
use and during decay. The picture becomes quite complex when considering that
around 80 000 chemicals are in use in the building industry, and that the number
of health-damaging chemicals has quadrupled since 1971. Damage to the ground
water system, local ecological systems etc. occurs due to the excavation or dyna-
miting of raw materials.
Pollution from production, the construction process and completed buildings
consists of emissions, dust and radiation from materials that are exposed to
chemical or physical activity such as warmth, pressure or damage. In the com-
pleted building these activities are relatively small, yet there is evidence of a
number of materials emitting gases or dust which can lead to serious health
problems for the inhabitants or users; primarily allergies, skin and mucous mem-
brane irritations. The electrostatic properties of different materials also play a
role in the internal climate of a building. Surfaces that are heavily negatively
charged can create an electrostatic charge and attract a great deal of dust.
Electrical conductors such as metals can increase existing magnetic fields. It is
also important that materials in the building do not contain radioactive con-
stituents, which can emit the health-damaging gas, radon.
Waste is part of the pollution picture and needs to be discussed, particularly as
these materials move beyond the scope of everyday activities and can be over-
