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A Validated Portfolio of Black Carbon Mitigation Measures for the Brick Industry in Colombia

Published
2020
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This study aims to analyze the endogenous and exogenous conditions that can condition the emission of atmospheric pollutants, especially black carbon associated with the combustion of fossil fuels in low efficiency systems within the brick sector.

Likewise, the analysis of the impacts at the level of public health and conditions of competitiveness of the brick sector allows us to sustain how the efforts for their reduction and mitigation in a focused way with the conditions of productivity of this type of organizations, which present different barriers for their operational evolution, condition a complex scenario that requires of adequate solution ways to the vision of different actors.

The document initially presents the analysis of the behaviour of black carbon emissions together with the typical operating conditions by type of firing technology, which has been verified as the main cause of black carbon emissions due to its productive intensity characteristics compared to other emission sources present in the life cycle of this industry.

Subsequently, the risks associated with the emission of particulate matter are explored according to their location, in order to identify which areas present the greatest risk of exposure. In this way, elements are presented to prioritize risk reduction actions on public health and food safety associated with the emission of black carbon and other particulate pollutants in the environment.

A review of the costs of externalities associated with air pollution is carried out, taking national references of information in order to review the possible relationship between pollution events in locations with high density of brick kilns with health effects. Likewise, the relationship of costs in the production and sale of products in the brick sector is explored.

The organizational barriers in the brick sector that can condition and influence the development of technological conversion activities or better production practices are reviewed and evaluated as a result of interviews with producers in the sector.

Finally, the general portfolio of options for mitigating or reducing black carbon emissions is compiled, depending on how directly they relate to the emission process.

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