Across the country, foundry managers are choosing to implement industrial dust collector equipment to protect personnel and minimize the environmental impact of daily operations. Why? Because coal combustion by-products like fly ash and coal dust contain particles like metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and silica. If employees are exposed to these potentially hazardous particles on a regular basis, they could damage their lungs or skin. According to a study published by the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, fly ash leached into the environment contaminates the air and drinking water, which then harms the animals and plants that consume these natural resources. Clearly, an industrial dust collector is a necessary first line of defense to protect against the hazards of fly ash. Be sure to select a durable industrial dust collector that is designed to handle the extreme conditions common to a foundry environment. Counter-cyclonic dust collectors are ideal for these applications since the secondary air stream reduces wear on the cyclone walls and increases efficiency.