In this study, the characterizations of soot from ceramic furnace flue gas were studied using environmental scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, particle size distribution, specific surface area measurements, crystal characterizations and organic pollutant analysis. Soot particles were mainly spherical nanoparticles with diameters less than 100 nm. However, the particles could be aggregated into larger ones with a median diameter of 3.66 mu m. Nanometer pores with diameters ranging 2-4 nm were also detected in the soot particles. Because of their large surface areas and pore volumes, other pollutants in the environment can be adsorbed to soot particles potentially making them more hazardous. Several elements, including C, O and Pb, were detected in the soot, but only small amounts of crystalline materials were observed. This is because most of the detected carbon and metals/metal oxides/metal salts were amorphous. Approximately 90 different organic pollutants were detected in the soot, including aromatic compounds and other hydrocarbons. Because of the carcinogenic properties of aromatic compounds and the photochemical effects of hydrocarbons, soot could have serious health and environmental impacts. The results suggest that soot particles are hazardous material and urgently need to be controlled. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.