Indoor Air Quality in Steel Making Industries

Abstract

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 PM_2.5 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.