Industrial responsibility in the emission of particulate matter in the atmosphere

The present investigation consists of the application of several techniques such as Mossbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, atomic absorption electron probe micro analysis (EPMA), and thermo-gravimetric analysis, to the identification of the particulate matter in atmospheric aerosols in the metropolitan region of Vitoria (MRV), ES, Brazil. The main sources of particulate matter and its emission characteristics within the steel industry have been studied to identify its contribution to air particles in Vitoria region. The analysis reveals the total amount of industrial emission of the iron containing components in the atmosphere. The presence of goethite, hematite, magnetite, pyrite, silicates, marine chloride and total absence of heavy metals could be confirmed.