To the primary pollutants emitted, when burning fossil fuels belong:
- carbon dioxide (C02),
- Sulphur dioxide (S02),
- nitrogen oxides (NOv), which they include: nitrogen dioxide (N02) and nitric oxide (NO),
- carbon monoxide - carbon monoxide (CO),
— pyły i sadze.

Of these, dust and soot are solid pollutants, the rest - with gases. These pollutants, excluding C02, they arise due to the presence of undesirable substances in fuel (S02, dust and soot) or as a result of unfavorable conditions, in which the combustion process takes place (CO, nitrogen oxides). Their emission can be significantly reduced by applying solutions limiting the emission, both primitives (preventing the formation of contamination), as well as secondary (reduction of emissions of pollutants that have already been created).
Carbon dioxide is a compound formed by combining carbon and oxygen atoms.
Therefore, its formation cannot be significantly reduced, if you want to get thermal energy from fuel. His broadcast, in the case of a boiler room, can be reduced by using high-efficiency boilers. C02 is a natural component of the Earth's atmosphere, used by plants in the process of photosynthesis. Its harmfulness consists in including it in the group of the so-called. "Greenhouse gases", having an impact on the "artificial greenhouse effect" (in contrast to the "natural greenhouse effect" - the increase in the average temperature of our planet by 33 ° C), the effects of which have not been conclusively proven so far. However, CO, is one of the basic indicators in energy and ecological evaluation of heat and electricity production technology.

NOx emissions can be reduced, using appropriate solutions in the area of ​​boilers and burners. On the other hand, CO emissions can be reduced, selecting burners that allow good mixing of fuel with air and controlling the combustion process.

The pollutants emitted into the atmosphere definitely have a negative impact on humans, as well as its surroundings. The harmfulness of the impact depends on the concentration of these substances in the air.

The amount of emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels depends on the type of fuel and the conditions, in which the combustion process takes place. The emission of sulfur dioxide and dust depends mainly on the properties of the fuel, while the formation of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide in a given device depends on the course of the combustion process.

The fuel with the lowest emission factors is natural gas, which contains traces of sulfur and solid impurities, and at the same time it is possible to precisely control the combustion process. Most pollutants are generated during the combustion of hard coal, whose combustion process is difficult to control, additionally contaminated with sulfur and ashes.

Charges are made for releasing pollutants into the atmosphere, which should be added to the operating costs of the boiler room. At present, from heat sources, with an installed capacity exceeding 200 kW, fees are calculated in a simplified manner. In the case of larger energy facilities with power
— powyżej 5 MW when burning hard coal, ,
— powyżej 10 MW when burning coke, wood, straw, fuel oil or diesel oil,
— powyżej 15 MW burning gaseous fuels,
it is necessary to perform an atmospheric air protection survey, on the basis of which fees are calculated and obtaining a permit for the introduction of gases or dust into the air.