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Distribution of airborne particles from multi-emission source.
Sari Kemppainen1, Heikki Tervahattu, Ryunosuke Kikuchi
1Department of Limnology and Environmental Protection, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
|June 17, 2003
Summary
Airborne particle distribution near a Finnish iron and steel factory was mapped. Clinker crushers and wind erosion from stockpiles, not industrial processes, were the main dust sources.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Industrial Ecology
- Atmospheric Chemistry
Background:
- Iron and steel factories generate significant particulate emissions.
- Complex multi-pollutant environments pose challenges for source identification.
- Environmental monitoring is crucial for assessing industrial impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution of airborne particles around an iron and steel factory in southern Finland.
- To identify the primary sources of particulate emissions in the factory's vicinity.
- To assess the effectiveness of SEM/EDX methodology in environmental pollution studies.
Main Methods:
- Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) was the primary analytical technique.
- Particles were collected and analyzed from Scots pine bark.
- Quantitative measurements of particle element content, size, and shape were performed.
Main Results:
- Distribution maps of particulate elements were generated.
- The amount of different particle types was plotted along study transects.
- Clinker crushers and wind erosion from stockpiles were identified as major emission sources, surpassing industrial processes.
Conclusions:
- SEM/EDX is a valuable tool for characterizing and mapping airborne particulate pollutants.
- Wind erosion from stockpiles and clinker crushers are significant contributors to dust loading.
- Understanding emission sources is key to managing environmental impact from industrial sites.