Open AccessIndoor Air Quality in Steel Making Industries
Author(s) -
Kamel K. AlZboon,
Osric Tening Forton
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
environmental management and sustainable development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2164-7682
DOI - 10.5296/emsd.v8i1.14315
Subject(s) - environmental science , nox , scrap , pollutant , indoor air quality , air quality index , air pollution , air pollutants , pollution , waste management , environmental engineering , environmental health , meteorology , metallurgy , materials science , engineering , medicine , chemistry , ecology , organic chemistry , biology , combustion , physics
Steel making industry is one of the major contributors to the global environmental catastrophes including climate change, photochemical smog and depletion of the ozone layer. Emissions from steel making process result in health impacts on workers and the neighboring communities. This study aimed to investigate indoor air quality in a steel making industry in Saudi Arabia. Indicative pollutants, SO2, NOx, CO, CO2, O3, PM10 and PM2.5 were measured at eight locations across the factory. The obtained results indicated that loading, melting, slag pouring and casting stages are the major sources of indoor air pollution. In comparison with the ambient air, indoor concentrations increased up to: 13.50, 9.8, 1.29, 2.7, 15.6, times for SO2, NOx, CO2, VOCs, O3, respectively. Periodical medical check, pollution control, using of uncontaminated scrap, compliance with H&S regulations, are the key factors in reducing indoor emissions and subsequently improve occupational health.