Introduction to air treatments

The media have relayed the various meetings and conclusions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on global warming and climate change due to the large quantities of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. In 2007, the IPCC was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its work. The evolution of the hole in the ozone layer [1] due to emissions of volatile organic compounds has been widely commented on by the press, radio and television. Alerts on ozone concentrations in cities during the summer months have raised public awareness of transport-related pollution. Generally speaking, these notions of "atmospheric pollution", mostly caused by transport, industrial, agricultural or domestic activities, have now been taken on board by the general public. Noise and air quality have the greatest impact on people's living environments. Indeed, dust, odors, etc. are very poorly appreciated and considered real nuisances that need to be combated.

This combination of factors has mobilized the international community. Politicians made commitments at global conferences, and action followed at national level to control and reduce polluting emissions. The Geneva Protocol, signed by 21 countries in November 1991, is a case in point. Following on from this, the fight against the increase in greenhouse gas emissions was formalized through the Rio Convention in June 1992. Even if problems do exist, as we are reminded by the events of the New York and Tokyo conferences in 1997, the Hague conference in November 2000 and, more recently, the IPCC meetings, European directives transcribed into French law in the form of ministerial decrees, such as that of February 2, 1998 modified by the decree of May 29, 2000, are currently in force (see the Regulations section [Doc. G 1 700v2] ). To complete this list of international protocols and conventions, Figure 1 in the Pour en savoir plus section [Doc. G 1 700v2] outlines a number of key milestones in the field of climate change and air quality. These regulatory obligations, linked to a collective awareness of the relationship between health/well-being and air pollution, have led to the implementation of technologies to treat gaseous emissions.

This article begins with a broad overview of the various pollutant compounds emitted naturally or as a result of human activity, and their impact on both human health and the environment. These findings naturally lead us to consider the possibilities of treating emissions in order to reduce pollution flows, in line with international...