AP wrote:
Shiny white
Self-cleaning building materials a possible weapon in fight against smog
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 07/22/2005 --- STOCKHOLM, Sweden....Using technology already available for self-cleaning windows and bathroom tiles, scientists hope to paint up cities with materials that dissolve and wash away pollutants when exposed to sun and rain.
"Among other things, we want to construct concrete walls that break down vehicle exhausts in road tunnels," said Karin Pettersson, a spokeswoman for Swedish construction giant Skanska. "It is also possible to make pavings that clean the air in cities."
... the revolution in nanotechnology - science dedicated to building materials from the molecular level. The catalytic properties of titanium dioxide become active when it is applied in a very thin layer, or in microscopic particles....
....In Japan, several modern buildings including the Marunouchi Building in downtown Tokyo are covered with photocatalytic tiles to reduce discoloring from pollution....
Nano-particles of titanium dioxide can pass the blood-brain barrier. They have high chemical reactivity and can integrate themselves into living cells. Are you nervous yet? The EPA is.
