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Electrostatic Precipitators

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Electrostatic Precipitators

Electrostatic precipitators are machines designed to reduce pollution in industrial applications. Typically fitted to the stacks of factories and power stations, electrostatic precipitators are designed to filter out dust particles from exhaust gases produced by industrial work. 99.9% of the dust particulates is captured by the precipitator, reducing the amount of dirty air passing into the atmosphere. (“Introduction to Precipitators”, 2oo7) Air pollution is a major problem in Hong Kong and across the globe. Power stations generate tonnes of pollution every year, deteriorating the air quality of the city. The waste they create is filled with dust and particulates, which can be detrimental to the …show more content…

This can be prevented by the use of electrostatic precipitators. Once air particulates have been removed, a significant part of the risk of damage to people have been removed as well. As stated in the quote above, one hundred thousand lives in Europe are lost annually due to ailments and illnesses caused by or complicated by particulates. Using electrostatic precipitators prevent more deaths from taking place.

Particulates and air pollution are also very harmful to the environment. Excessive air pollution and emissions of gases such as sulphur dioxide can cause acid rain, which acidifies the soil, rendering it unsuitable for growth of crops and greenery. Much of the harmful gases come from manmade sources, such as power plants, factories and vehicles. Particulates also a cause of smog, which can cause plenty of ill effects. Exposure to the ozone, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide contained in the smog can cause inflamed lung passages and pain while inhaling. Cleaner air can help a city economically. In recent years, many expatriates have returned to their country of origin due to the deteriorating quality of the air in Hong Kong, reducing the skilled workforce available in the city. In 2005, US$300 million was lost due to medical bills and lost productivity caused by the bad air pollution. Prospective new hires are even turning down job offers because of

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