Environmental impact of steel production process

The steel production sector is striving for technical innovations, to reduce the environmental impacts to acceptable levels. The aim of this study is to analyze the steel production processes to give a picture of the main environmental impacts and possible solutions. Atmospheric emissions of different pollutants (CO2, SO2, NO2, PM, EM, PCDDs, PCDFs, PCBs, PAHs) are among the major determinants of potential environmental and health impacts, and were primarily considered in this discussion. The contributions of various sources differ from one steelwork to another. Investment in abatement technologies should have a positive and effective impact, to tackle process direct emissions associated with coking, sintering, steel making. Area and diffusive sources can be efficiently abated by means of good housekeeping techniques. The detailed analysis of impacts potentially occurring from steel production facilities needs site-specific studies based on a combination of approaches (air dispersion modelling, ambient air sampling campaigns, pollutants mapping and source apportionment).