Abstract: The invention provides a method for reducing atmospheric pollution caused by a pollutant selected from the group consisting of CO.sub.2, SO.sub.2 and a mixture thereof, the pollutant being contained in industrial gases being emitted to the atmosphere, through the conversion of CO.sub.2 to calcium carbonate and the conversion of SO.sub.2 to calcium sulfite using conventionally available calcium salt-containing reactant; said method comprising reacting the pollutant-containing gas, prior to the venting thereof to the atmosphere, with an alkali base and an aqueous liquor, whereby the pollutant reacts with the base and transfers to the liquor, and the resulting gas vented to the atmosphere has a reduced pollutant content; and reacting the pollutant-loaded liquor with a calcium salt-containing reactant to form calcium carbonate and calcium sulfite respectively, with the co-formation of a commercially utilizable salt containing an anion from the calcium salt reactant and a cation from the alkali base.