Air Pollution from Global Steel and Cement Industry

In addition to being two of the most energy- and carbon-intensive industries, the steel and cement industry also are two of the major air polluting industries worldwide. The expected increase in demand and production of steel and cement could be accompanied by the increase in the emissions of criteria air pollutants and other hazardous emissions as well as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions under the current policy and technology regime.

Air pollution contributes to a wide variety of adverse health effects. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), exposure to criteria air pollutants can cause a variety of respiratory health effects, including inflammation of the lining of the lungs, reduced lung function, and respiratory symptoms, increased susceptibility to respiratory infection, premature mortality, aggravation of cardiovascular disease, decreased lung function growth, exacerbation of allergic symptoms, neurodevelopmental effects such as lowered IQ and behavioral problems, reduction in the capacity of the blood to carry oxygen, thereby decreasing the supply of oxygen to tissues and organs such as the heart, and many other negative health effects.

In most countries, steel and cement plants are located close to low-income, disadvantaged communities. The air pollutants arising from processes and fossil fuel consumption in the steel and cement plants disproportionately affect these communities. Improvement in efficiency of fuel use and lowering or elimination of criteria air pollutants can help mitigate the health risk and improve the quality of life of the communities located close to these plants.

Global Efficiency Intelligence is conducting a benchmarking study for major criteria air pollutants such as Sulfur dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen oxide (NOx), Particulate matter (PM), and Non-Methane Volatile Organic Compounds (NMVOC), emitted from the production of steel and cement in major producing countries/regions. We are considering both direct and indirect sources of emissions i.e., onsite emissions related to process and fuel combustion in steel and cement plants (direct emissions) and offsite emissions associated with electricity used by steel and cement plants that is caused from electricity generation in the power sector (indirect emissions).