To summarize...
Smog-eating concrete (or photocatalytic concrete) was developed back in 2007 by the Italian cement company Italcementi. It was meant to act as a self-cleaning cement that would be an ingredient in concrete, but was later proved to be capable of getting rid of pollution in the surrounding air. Reducing the levels of certain pollutants by 20 – 70%, depending on local conditions and the amount of exposed surface area. Photocatalytic concrete uses titanium dioxide (TiO2) which, when exposed to natural sunlight, triggers a chemical reaction. This reaction causes titanium oxide to break down certain pollutants that contribute to smog. One of the pollutants titanium dioxide can oxidise is Nitrogen Oxide (NOx). Nitrogen Oxide is the result of burning fossil fuels. NOx breaks down in the atmosphere and creates smog and ground level ozone. Researchers are focused on Photocatalytic concreret's effectivness on Nitrogen Oxide due to the fact that NOx is a big contributer to air pollution and smog. So far, they have found that Photocatalytic concrete decreases nitrogen oxide levels by 25-45%. As the planet grows warmer thanks to climate change, more smog will be created because temperature regulates smog; and smog is more severe on a hot, sunny day than on a cool windy day. As the smog increases, all living beings are being forced to adapt to new and worse surroundings. Even humans. Humans will be forced to get accustomed to living with, walking around in, and breathing smog. Thankfully, if Photocatalytic concrete was paved all around the world, it could actually reduce smog instead of increase it (thanks to it's pollution-eating qualities.
Where it's used
Photocatalytic concrete is being used in Italy and other areas in Europe. They have already paved many of their roads with the new product. Chicago though, is the first city in the U.S to adopt the concrete. They have layed down a thin layer of photocatalytic concrete for the bicycle and parking lanes on Blue Island and Cermak Road. Last fall, Chicago paved West Cermak Street, which is a well known route for trucks , and is a particularly polluted area in the city.
You should have noticed the brand new barriers that were installed a couple years ago that go along Ontario's highway 401. What you probably didn't know, is that they are made of smog-eating concrete. And the photocatalytic concrete project has been added to MTO's (Ontario Misistry of Transportation) Green Pavements rating system.
You should have noticed the brand new barriers that were installed a couple years ago that go along Ontario's highway 401. What you probably didn't know, is that they are made of smog-eating concrete. And the photocatalytic concrete project has been added to MTO's (Ontario Misistry of Transportation) Green Pavements rating system.
in conclusion...
The Earth is changing for the worse, and it's the fault of the human race. Now it's a race against time to try to purify our planet before it is destroyed. With a growing population, the Earth is in need of more roads. But more roads means more car exhaust and air pollution. Thanks to Italicementi, we have a paving ingredient that might help with that problem. If Photocatalytic concrete were paved all around the world, it could actually reduce smog instead of increase it. Even though Photocatalytic concrete can't prevent climate change,it can reduce some of the effects (such as air pollution and smog). Paving Smog-eating concrete is a natural choice, and a big step towards saving our planet.