Carbon black is not black carbon or soot. Both are the two most common, generic terms applied to various unwanted and uncontrolled carbonaceous by-products generated from the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing materials. Sources of black carbon or soot include the burning of biomass, diesel fuel, paper; rubber, plastics and waste materials. Soot and black carbon also contain large quantities of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and usually exhibit an elemental carbon content of less than 60 percent according to "Carbon Black and Soot: Two Different Substances"; (Watson and Valberg, AIHAJ, Volume 62, pp 218-228). On the contrary, most carbon blacks contain more than 97 percent elemental carbon. Based on recent studies, it is estimated that 25-35 percent of black carbon in the global atmosphere comes from developing countries, where it is emitted from the burning of wood and other biofuels in household cooking and coal heat applications. Worldwide, solid fuels wood, dung, crop residues, charcoal, coal) account for more than 95 percent of domestic energy use in 25 of the world's low-income countries. However, according to Dr. Tami Bond of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, only about 10 percent of all black carbon is generated from industrial process emissions. There is a great deal of controversy on the contribution of black carbon to global warming. Concerns related to black carbon’s color and particle size have been debated, and suggest that it may either cool or warm the atmosphere, depending on whether the black carbon is airborne or deposited. Regardless of these unknowns and the distinct differences between intentionally produced and controlled emissions, Cabot has taken very aggressive measures to reduce particulate emissions throughout our manufacturing operations. All of our carbon black facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art baghouse technology, incineration equipment, and modern flares – all of which are very efficient at removing particles and gases from the process rather than emitting them into the environment. Regardless of these unknowns and the distinct differences between intentionally produced and controlled emissions, Cabot has taken very aggressive measures to reduce particulate emissions throughout our manufacturing operations. All of our carbon black facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art baghouse technology, incineration equipment, and modern flares – all of which are very efficient at removing particles and gases from the process rather than emitting them into the environment. Regardless of these unknowns and the distinct differences between intentionally produced and controlled emissions, Cabot has taken very aggressive measures to reduce particulate emissions throughout our manufacturing operations. All of our carbon black facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art baghouse technology, incineration equipment, and modern flares – all of which are very efficient at removing particles and gases from the process rather than emitting them into the environment. Regardless of these unknowns and the distinct differences between intentionally produced and controlled emissions, Cabot has taken very aggressive measures to reduce particulate emissions throughout our manufacturing operations. All of our carbon black facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art baghouse technology, incineration equipment, and modern flares – all of which are very efficient at removing particles and gases from the process rather than emitting them into the environment.