Scientists Successfully Create , Low-Carbon Concrete , With Hazardous Material.<br />The Cool Down reports that a recent breakthrough<br />could help solve a major environmental <br />problem in the construction industry.<br />According to a press release from RMIT <br />University, engineers successfully replaced <br />80% of the cement in concrete with coal fly ash.<br />Coal fly ash is a toxic waste <br />created by burning dirty <br />fuel in coal-fired plants.<br />The lead on the project, Dr. Chamila Gunasekara, <br />said that most low-carbon concretes <br />usually contain no more than 40% fly ash.<br />Our addition of nano additives <br />to modify the concrete's chemistry <br />allows more fly ash to be <br />added without compromising <br />engineering performance. , Dr. Chamila Gunasekara, RMIT project lead, via 'The Guardian'.<br />According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, <br />coal plants release pollutants that have <br />been linked to severe health issues.<br />Those health issues include heart <br />problems, neurological disorders, <br />cancer and premature death. .<br />At the same time, cement production is believed <br />to account for 8% of worldwide carbon pollution, <br />while demand for cement is continuing to grow. .<br />As a result, scientists have been looking for <br />ways to reduce harmful construction-sector pollution, <br />and coal ash appears to present a promising solution.<br />The team out of RMIT hopes the findings, published in <br />the journal 'Cement and Concrete Research,' will serve <br />as evidence for the potential of low-carbon concretes