Interesting facts:
• The word concrete comes from the Latin word "concretus" (meaning compact or condensed), the past participle of "concresco", from "com-" (together) and "cresco" (to grow).
• As of 2006, about 7.5 cubic kilometres of concrete are made each year—more than one cubic metre for every person on Earth.
• The cement industry is one of two primary producers of carbon dioxide (CO2), creating up to 5% of worldwide emissions of this gas, of which 50% is from the chemical process, and 40% from burning fuel.
• Both concrete and asphalt are the primary contributors to what is known as the urban heat island effect.
• Building demolition, and natural disasters such as earthquakes often release a large amount of concrete dust into the local atmosphere. Concrete dust was concluded to be the major source of dangerous air pollution following the Great Hanshin earthquake.