Evaluation of air quality in Volta Redonda, the main metallurgical industrial city in Brazil

Abstract

A maior indústria de aço do Brasil está situada na cidade de Volta Redonda, RJ. A produção de coque neste tipo de indústria é a maior fonte de emissão de compostos aromáticos. Com objetivo de implementar medidas de controle da poluição nas indústrias a FEEMA, agência ambiental do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, avaliou a qualidade do ar naquela cidade em Dec/95-Mai/96 e Abr-Mai/99. Na primeira campanha, material particulado total (MPT), benzeno, tolueno, xilenos (BTX) e dióxido de enxofre (SO 2 ) foram analisados e concentrações médias altas foram encontradas: 102 µg m -3 , 70 µg m -3 , 23 µg m -3 , 2,5 µg m -3 e 186 µg m -3 , respectivamente. Após medidas drásticas de controle, a segunda avaliação (Abr-Mai/99), apresentou valores menores: 102 µg m -3 (TSP); 62 µg m -3 (PM 10 ), 23 µg m -3 (B), 4 µg m -3 (T), 0,6 µg m -3 (X), 73 µg m -3 (SO 2 ) além de metais. Esses resultados, principalmente para benzeno, indicam que o programa de monitoramento deve continuar até atingir a solução final para o problema.The largest steel plant in Brazil is located in Volta Redonda city, RJ. Coke production in this kind of industry is the major emission source of aromatic compounds. Aiming the implementation of pollution control measures in industries, FEEMA, Rio de Janeiro State environmental agency, evaluated air quality in that city in Dec/95-May/96 and Apr-May/99. In the first campaign, total suspended particles (TSP), benzene, toluene, xylenes (BTX) and sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) were analyzed and high average concentrations were found 102 µg m -3 , 70 µg m -3 , 23 µg m -3 , 2.5 µg m -3 and 186 µg m -3 , respectively. Following drastic control measures, the second evaluation (Apr-May/99) showed values that dropped to 102 µg m -3 (TSP); 62 µg m -3 (PM 10 ), 23 µg m -3 (B), 4 µg m -3 (T), 0.6 µg m -3 (X), 73 µg m -3 (SO 2 ) besides metals. These results, mainly for benzene, indicate that the monitoring program must continue until a final solution for this problem is reached.Keywords: air pollution, BTX, particulate matter, steel industry, outdoor air IntroductionVolta Redonda, a city in Rio de Janeiro State, grew around the largest steel producing plant in Brazil. It has a current population of 250,000 inhabitants, and is the source of one of the state's main revenues. 1 Its environmental problems are basically related to air pollution resulting from the type and location of the region's industrial activities. The most important source of organic pollutants in the monitored area is coke production at National Steel Company (CSN) (4.6 x 10 6 metric tons/year). Volta Redonda is located in a strategic area -halfway between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro (BR 393 road). Thus, there is high air pollution potential due to vehicles motor exhaust from heavy traffic. Furthermore, many other metallurgical and cement factories were established there to supply CSN demand, contributing to the complex array of possible air pollution sources. 857 Evaluation of Air Quality in Volta Redonda, the Main Metallurgical Industrial City in Brazil Vol. 15, No. 6...

A systematic review of the physical and chemical characteristics of pollutants from biomass burning and combustion of fossil fuels and health effects in Brazil

“…The most studied sites in articles on emissions of these pollutants were the metropolitan regions of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro 7,8,90,91,94,95,98,99,102,103,105 .…”

“…In metropolitan areas in the South and Southeast Regions of Brazil, high concentrations of metals, especially Zn, Pb, Cr, manganese (Mn) and cadmium (Cd) were measured in PM 8,101,102 . In Rio de Janeiro, elevated concentrations of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), Fe, aluminum (Al) and Zn were identified in the elemental composition of PM 2.5 .…”

“…In Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro State, high concentrations of PAHs, such as benzene (52-93µg/m 3 ), toluene (17-30µg/m 3 ) and xylene (1.7-3µg/m 3 ) were found 8 . In the Southern Region of Brazil, in areas with substantial industrial activity, such as Porto Alegre, the mean value of PAHs ranged between 0.04µg/m 3 and 2.3µg/m 3 with benzo(ghi)perylene (BGP) having the highest concentration 92 .…”

“…PAHs were found in PM in metropolitan regions of Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre and showed genotoxic effects 8,92 . In regions where biomass burning occurs, PAHs receive little attention in the literature, but one study in the Brazilian Amazon found the presence of various hydrocarbons with potentially carcinogenic effects: fluoranthene, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(e) pyrene indeno-(cd)pyrene, dibenzo(ah)anthracene and benzo(a)pyrene 113 .…”

“…Globally, Brazil makes a significant contribution to PM emissions because some regions of the country have extremely high levels of air pollution. In the South and Southeast Regions, the development of automobiles and industry are the main cause of these high levels 8 , whereas in the southern and eastern Brazilian Amazon the expansion of agribusiness and forest fires are the main contributors to PM emissions, especially in the region known as the "Arc of Deforestation" 9 .…”