Poor Air Quality is a Global Challenge

From the separation of liquids, solids and harmful gases through to flue-gas scrubbing and biological purification of exhaust gas – new air-pollution control technologies have long been a part of the repertoire at the environmental technology trade show, IFAT, which takes place from May 5 to 9, 2014, at the Messe München exhibition center.

And with good reason: Worldwide each year more than two million people die from the consequences of air pollution. This figure was identified by a team of researchers from the University of North Carolina, USA, in a recent study. According to the scientists, the deaths come from heart and lung disease caused mainly by particulate matter. The most severely affected areas are the densely populated regions of India and East and Southeast Asia, but also in Europe and the countries of the former Soviet Union.

It can be expected that in general the challenges to human health that are associated with poor air quality will continue to rise. The British environmental researcher Professor Frank Kelly of King's College London, UK, assumes that in future the environmental effects of air pollution will even exceed the problems caused by unclean water and waste disposal, both of which have so far been regarded as critical.

As well as structural change, for example in the field of transport and energy supplies, demand will continue for countermeasures in the form of effective air-pollution control technologies. According to the German Engineering Federation, the VDMA (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau), the German companies in the sector are currently very well set up and pushing ahead with innovations. Christine Montigny, from the air-pollution control section of the VDMA comments: "Currently we are observing a prioritisation of the themes of energy-efficiency, life-cycle costs and environmental protection. In the medium term at least this will bring positive input." The technological advances in integrated environmental protection made in recent years have reduced the need for downstream technology in general. On the other hand highly specialised niche products, particularly when they are an integrated component in the production process, continue to have very good prospects worldwide. Thus, for example, more and more manufacturers and system suppliers are offering systems for recovery of energy or secondary raw materials from exhaust air flows. Montigny’s association colleague, Guntram Preuß, from the section on market information, adds. "Sales of air-pollution control technology for industrial processes by Germany companies are over two billion euros per year, and in 2013 that will increase still further."

"Apart from considerations of cost-efficiency, it is above all the worldwide tightening of regulatory measures to reduce air pollution that will boost this market and generate innovations," emphasizes Montigny.

Innovations in air-pollution technology will also be on show at the booths of many exhibitors at IFAT. A detailed listing of all the companies that will be taking part next year in the world’s most important environmental technology trade show will be available on the show’s website from November. A provisional listing is already available now for download, at: www.ifat.de/en/Exhibitorlist.