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...
