A review with 18 refs. covering activities preventing emission of organic solvents into air, evaporative loss control of fuels in vehicles, adsorptive cleanup of incineration gases, and adsorption of radionuclides on active carbon. Examples of efficient use of adsorption were given, ranging from takeup of organics (dioxins) and inorganics (radio-iodine, Hg vapors) to noble gases.