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Roof Shingles Reducing Smog?

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August 1, 2018

A newly released specialized coating, when applied to a roof shingle, is said to reduce air pollution. The 3M Industrial Mineral Products Division has launched 3M Smog-reducing Granules to help remove nitrogen oxides (NOx) when applied to roofing shingles. Integrated throughout the shingle’s surface, the granules are designed with a specialized photocatalytic coating applied to the base mineral. The coating is activated by the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, while blending into various shingle color combinations. As sunlight hits the shingles, radicals are generated and transform nitrogen oxide gases into water-soluble ions, improving air quality, a release reports.

3M submitted granule and shingle samples to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for evaluation. Performance testing occurred using gases in a reaction chamber. Downstream of the system, NOx concentrations were recorded in real time, prior to, during, and after UV illumination. The testing validated 3M’s claim of reducing smog and contributing toward air purification, the release stated. See a brief video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeVBEe96e44.