Environmental impact of steel

Steel is important for construction,but it also affects the environment.The world produces a lot of steel over 240 kilos for every single person in the world every year .Steel production is one of the most energy consuming and CO2 emitting industrial activities in world. Environmental impact of steel production: Mining of iron ore : the main raw material for steel is iron ore is mined a year about 95 percent is used by the steel industry. The mining of iron ore is highly energy intensive and causes air pollution in the form of nitrous oxide,carbon dioxide,carbon monoxide,sulfur dioxide from diesel generators,trucks and other equipment. The mining of iron ore also cause water pollution of heavy metals and acid that drains from the mines.Acid drainage can go on from thousand of years after the mining activities have stopped. Steel production requires large inputs of coke which is extremely damaging to the environment.coke emit air pollution such as naphthalene that is highly toxic and cause cancer. waste water from the coking process is also highly toxic and contains a number of carcinogenic organic compounds as well as cyanide, sulfides,ammonium and ammonia. Green house gas emissions from steel production: on average of 1.83 tons of CO2 is emitted from every ton of steel produced making steel production a major contributor to global warming adding over 3.3 million tons annually to global emission . so manufacturing of steel affects the environment.It affects land,water,air etc. so we should find a alternative to steel which does not pollutes the environment. :By -Kishore G