Smokestack
A tall industrial chimney that releases combustion gases and pollutants into the air. Often the visible point source for a facility's emissions.
Related terms
Point Source A single, identifiable source of pollution, such as a discharge pipe, smokestack, or factory outlet—the kind regulators can permit and measure directly. Refinery An industrial facility that processes crude oil into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other petrochemical products. Refineries are major emitters of benzene, sulfur compounds, and volatile organic chemicals. Point-Source Pollution Area An area degraded by a single, identifiable source of pollution—such as a specific factory's smokestack or a specific wastewater discharge pipe.