Industrialization tends to be accompanied by growing population and increasing awareness on environmental problems, making the use of pollution control equipment imperative. However, the air pollution is a complex phenomenon, as the pollutants distributed in the air are molecularly more random than in other media (soil and water). The control of air pollution, therefore, often becomes a more energy intensive process, leading to increased CO2 emissions. Further, air pollution comprises particulate and gaseous pollutions requiring different control philosophies. When the control of both particulate and gaseous pollutants is required in a single step, the selection of equipment is further complicated. This article outlines how such complications could be avoided by developing an understanding on the criteria of selecting air pollution control devices. The advantages and disadvantages of all generic control devices are critically appraised for the better understanding by both the designers and users. Emission trading, bubble policy, and the recommendations of the World Bank Guidelines for controlling particulates, SO2, and NOX pollution are highlighted. The recent research on the development of air pollution control devices are appraised critically. Finally, the criteria on selecting equipment for controlling particulate-laden-gaseous pollution in a single step are critically elucidated with few case studies.