A comparative study on the effectiveness of pollutants control measures adopted in the steel industry to reduce workplace and environmental exposure: a case study
Abstract Our understanding of the environmental and occupational health implications of pollutants emitted in steel production is still lacking, despite the considerable amount of research devoted to this topic. Given the significance of steel recycling and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emission...
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Nature Portfolio
2024-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-60817-w |
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| author | Daniel Onut Badea Alina Trifu Doru Costin Darabont |
| author_facet | Daniel Onut Badea Alina Trifu Doru Costin Darabont |
| author_sort | Daniel Onut Badea |
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| description | Abstract Our understanding of the environmental and occupational health implications of pollutants emitted in steel production is still lacking, despite the considerable amount of research devoted to this topic. Given the significance of steel recycling and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, many steel factories are adopting electric arc furnace (EAF) technology. The use of a technological system designed for the capture of pollutants emitted through EAF steel production is highly ecological because of its utilization of iron scrap and low investment cost. Despite this, the main issue with the EAF is the environmental impact it poses, specifically the release of pollutants into the air, such as dust and organic substances, chlorinated dioxins and furans, dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls and brominated dioxins and furans. As a result, workers in this field have a considerable rate of morbidity. The main challenge for EAFs is to optimize the capture of powders produced during the techno-logical process, both from the EAF and the workplace. A state-of-the art solution for managing pollutants in modern steel manufacturing is highlighted in this paper, featuring a method used in Romania that employs the Best Available Techniques (BAT) reference document for iron and steel production to directly collect pollutants from the EAF. The system included a cylindrical fitting, a heat exchanger to cool the gases and a hood to collect contaminants. In comparison to other ventilation options, this equipment boasts lower investment and lower operational costs because of its effective and minimal air flow. Through the use of cutting-edge technology and progressive strategies, we can move closer toward our objective of a workplace free from injuries in the steel industry. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f348dc2b6ae24c0bb86643d534952e1c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| spelling | doaj-art-f348dc2b6ae24c0bb86643d534952e1c2024-12-15T12:08:10ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-04-0114111110.1038/s41598-024-60817-wA comparative study on the effectiveness of pollutants control measures adopted in the steel industry to reduce workplace and environmental exposure: a case studyDaniel Onut Badea0Alina Trifu1Doru Costin Darabont2National Research and Development Institute on Occupational Safety - I.N.C.D.P.M. “Alexandru Darabont”National Research and Development Institute on Occupational Safety - I.N.C.D.P.M. “Alexandru Darabont”National Research and Development Institute on Occupational Safety - I.N.C.D.P.M. “Alexandru Darabont”Abstract Our understanding of the environmental and occupational health implications of pollutants emitted in steel production is still lacking, despite the considerable amount of research devoted to this topic. Given the significance of steel recycling and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, many steel factories are adopting electric arc furnace (EAF) technology. The use of a technological system designed for the capture of pollutants emitted through EAF steel production is highly ecological because of its utilization of iron scrap and low investment cost. Despite this, the main issue with the EAF is the environmental impact it poses, specifically the release of pollutants into the air, such as dust and organic substances, chlorinated dioxins and furans, dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls and brominated dioxins and furans. As a result, workers in this field have a considerable rate of morbidity. The main challenge for EAFs is to optimize the capture of powders produced during the techno-logical process, both from the EAF and the workplace. A state-of-the art solution for managing pollutants in modern steel manufacturing is highlighted in this paper, featuring a method used in Romania that employs the Best Available Techniques (BAT) reference document for iron and steel production to directly collect pollutants from the EAF. The system included a cylindrical fitting, a heat exchanger to cool the gases and a hood to collect contaminants. In comparison to other ventilation options, this equipment boasts lower investment and lower operational costs because of its effective and minimal air flow. Through the use of cutting-edge technology and progressive strategies, we can move closer toward our objective of a workplace free from injuries in the steel industry.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-60817-wElectric arc furnace (EAF)Occupational healthPollutant capture systemSteelmaking process |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Onut Badea Alina Trifu Doru Costin Darabont A comparative study on the effectiveness of pollutants control measures adopted in the steel industry to reduce workplace and environmental exposure: a case study Scientific Reports Electric arc furnace (EAF) Occupational health Pollutant capture system Steelmaking process |
| title | A comparative study on the effectiveness of pollutants control measures adopted in the steel industry to reduce workplace and environmental exposure: a case study |
| title_full | A comparative study on the effectiveness of pollutants control measures adopted in the steel industry to reduce workplace and environmental exposure: a case study |
| title_fullStr | A comparative study on the effectiveness of pollutants control measures adopted in the steel industry to reduce workplace and environmental exposure: a case study |
| title_full_unstemmed | A comparative study on the effectiveness of pollutants control measures adopted in the steel industry to reduce workplace and environmental exposure: a case study |
| title_short | A comparative study on the effectiveness of pollutants control measures adopted in the steel industry to reduce workplace and environmental exposure: a case study |
| title_sort | comparative study on the effectiveness of pollutants control measures adopted in the steel industry to reduce workplace and environmental exposure a case study |
| topic | Electric arc furnace (EAF) Occupational health Pollutant capture system Steelmaking process |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-60817-w |
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