Environmental Engineering and Management Journal, March 2005, Vol.4, No.

1, 51-65
http://omicron.ch.tuiasi.ro/EEMJ/

Gh. Asachi Technical University of Iasi, Romania

_______________________________________________________________________

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR

STEEL PROCESSING
Brindusa Robu*, Carmen Zaharia, Matei Macoveanu
Technical University of Iasi, Faculty of Industrial Chemistry, Department of Environmental
Engineering and Management, 71 A Mangeron Blvd., 700050 Iasi, Romania

Abstract
Environmental impact assessment is a very complex process, which deserves much more
attention and cooperation between the specialists. In generally, the methods used to
quantify the ecological impact are: diagrams, matrix, check lists etc. The purpose of this
paper is to assess the impact on environment, applying the method of global pollution
index for an installation which processes steel. The first step was to analyze different
samples (air, water, soil) in order to identify the pollutants which are generated by the
installation. After that, the environmental impact quantification can be done by
evaluating the magnitude of pollution on environment. The laboratory methods used to
identify the pollutants from the evaluated site are briefly described and some
recommendations are made in order to minimize the impact on environment. From
assessment of environmental impact it resulted that the air, ground water from evaluated
site and surface water attained the lowest evaluation grades, which means that the
industrial activities involved in steel processing have a negative impact on quality of
environment.
Keywords: environment, impact assessment, global pollution, steel processing

1. General considerations
The activities and the utilities involved into a steel processing are
generating different emissions into environmental components. These emissions
can contribute to a significant air, water and soil pollution, on large or small
area, depending on qualitative and quantitative characteristics of emissions. The
auxiliary activities involved in producing and selling of tubes, lines and different
metallic products are activities which could have a negative impact on the
environment for short or long time.
The iron and steel industry is highly intensive in both materials and
energy consumption. Important subject for action in response to environmental
concerns are generally considered to relate to controlling air emissions and
managing solid wastes. Wastewaters discharge from coke oven plants is of
significant higher relevance than discharges from the water circuits at blast
furnaces, basic-oxygen steel making, and continuous casting plants. The
*

Author to whom all correspondence should be addressed: Phone: 0040-232-271759; e-mail:

brobu@ch.tuiasi.ro

Robu et al/Environmental Engineering and Management Journal 4 (2005), 1, 51-65

industrial wastewaters are discharged into the internal sewerage, and then they
are pretreated in local installations/equipments. The final effluent is discharged
in natural receptor (surface water), near to the evaluated industrial site. Noise
emissions, local soil pollution as well as groundwater pollution are other matters
of concern for the iron and steel industry. Casting products, whether ingots,
slabs, billets or blooms are subsequently processed in rolling mills and product
finishing lines are prepared for market. The impact on environmental
components (air, water, soil, ecosystems) is very complex and its effects have
different intensities in environment, the magnitude of these effects depending on
the capacity of processing, type of industrial activities and maintenance of
productive system.
The methods and techniques generally used to assess the impacts on
environment require a team work, the collaboration between specialists, who are
able to assess the synthetic relations between industrial activities and
environment, and to evaluate in detail each environmental aspect and its impact.
The preliminary evaluation of data can be done by graphics, diagrams, check
lists, impact matrix, and integrated models (Barrow, 1997; Macoveanu, 2003;
Morris et al., 1995; Rojanschi et al., 1997)
2. Environmental impact assessment by the method of global pollution
index
The method of global pollution index allows an evaluation of
environmental pollution produced by certain industrial activities, and a
quantification using an index, which is taking in account the ideal value and the
real value of quality indicators that are representative for evaluated
environmental components. This method consists of synthetic appreciations,
based on quality indicators for each environmental component, and their further
correlation using a graphical representation. Thus, for each environmental
component different evaluation grades are established (on a scale from 1 to 10),
considering the levels of quality indicators as imposed by national standards and
those obtained for the fluxes resulted in the production process (emissions). On
the scale 1 to 10, the evaluation grade 1 describes a very severe situation, while
the grade 10 describes the ideal situation (the quality of evaluated environmental
component is not affected by human or industrial activities). (Kaisse et al., 1999;
Macoveanu, 2003; Negrei, 1999; Rojanschi et al., 1997). It has to be remarked
the fact that this method is mainly based on subjective appreciations and
therefore the experience of evaluators is very important.
To appreciate the quality of surface water it is used the Governmental
Ordinance no. 1146/2005 regarding the goals for classification of surface water
quality (Governmental Ordinance, 2005), Drinking Water Law no. 458/2002
(Drinking Water Law, 2002), Governmental Decision no. 100/2002 for approval
of quality norms that has to be fulfilled by surface waters used to produce
drinking water and for approval of normative regarding measurement methods
and the frequency of sampling the surface waters used to produce drinking water
52

Environmental impact assessment for an ironed metals process

(Governmental Decision, 2002), and Governmental Decision no. 188/2002 for

approval of norms regarding the conditions to discharge wastewater into aquatic
environment: NTPA 001, NTPA 002 (Governmental Decision, 2002a). Data are
presented in Table 1. The evaluation grades have been obtained considering the
measured values of the following quality indicators: COD-Cr, BOD, ammonium,
sulphate, nitrogen, total iron and residues.
Table 1. Evaluation scale for the environmental component surface waters
Evaluation
grades
10

Water
category

COD-Cr
(mg/L)

Nitrogen
(mg/L)

Sulphate
(mg/L)

Total Fe
(mg/L)

Residues
(mg/L)

< 10

<3

9
8
7
6

Drinking
water
Category I
Category II
Category III
Category IV

< 0.05

<4

< 80

fond*

fond*

10
10-25
25-50
50-125

3
35
5 10
1025

0.05-0.25
0.250.35
0.350.7
0.71.9

<4
4-13
13-26
26-66

<80
80-150
150-250
250-300

fond*
<0,1
0.1-0.3
0.31-1.0

125-175

25 - 30

1.92.2

66-75

300-500

1.1-2.5

Stage 1 of
175-300
degradation
3
Stage 2 of
300-500
degradation
2
Waste water, 500-700
stage 1
1
Waste water,
>700
stage 2
* concentration in natural conditions

3050

2.22.5

75-85

500-700

2.51-3.75

50100

2.53

85-95

700-800

3.76-4.5

100-500

3.05

95-100

800-900

4.51-5.0

> 500

>5

> 100

>900

>5.0

fond*
200-500
500-1000
10001300
13001500
15001700
17001800
18002000
>2000

Category V

BOD Ammonium
(mg/L)
(mg /L)

On the evaluated site, the presence of ground water at 8 10 m depth was

identified, and samples from different places were analyzed. The measured
values of quality indicators were compared with those from the national
legislation (Drinking Water Law, 2002; Governmental Order, 2002a;
Governmental Decision, 2002; Governmental Decision, 2002a), and the
evaluation scale was established (Table 2).
Table 2. Evaluation scale for environmental component ground waters
Evalua
-tion
grades
10
9
8
7
6
5
4

Water
category
Drinking
water
Category I
Category II
Category
III
Category
IV
Category V
Stage 1 of
degradation

COD-Cr
(mg/L)

Residues
(mg/L)

Total Fe
(mg/L)

Total Cr
(g/L)

Zn
(g/L)

Cu
(g/L)

Pb
(g/L)

<10

fond

fond

fond

fond

fond

fond

10
10-25
25-50

fond
200-500
500-1000

fond
<0.1
0.1-0.3

fond
<50
50.1-100.0

fond
<100
100-200

fond
<20
20.1-40

fond
<5
5.1-10.0

50-125

1000-1300

0.31-1.0

200.1-500

40.1-100

10.1-25.0

125-175

1300-1500

1.1-2.5

500.1-750

100.1-300

25.1-50.0

175-300

1500-1700

2.51-3.75

100.1250.0
250.1400.0
400.1600.0

750.1875.0

300.1500

50.1100.0

53

Robu et al/Environmental Engineering and Management Journal 4 (2005), 1, 51-65

Table 2 (continued)
3

Stage 2 of
degradation
Waste water
stage 1
Waste water
stage 2

2
1

300-500
500-700
>700

17001800
18002000
>2000

3.76-4.5
4.51-5.0
>5,0

600.1750.0
750.11000
>1000

875.11000
1000.11250
>1250

500.1-700
700.11000
>1000

100.1300.0
300.1500.0
>500

In order to evaluate the environmental component air, the influence of

three quality indicators was analyzed: NOx (mg/m3), dust (mg/m3), VOCs
(mg/m3), after that the evaluation scale was made considering the normal values,
according to national legislation (Governmental Order, 1993; Governmental
Order, 2002; Governmental Decision, 2003) (Table 3).
Table 3. Evaluation scale for environmental component air
Evaluation Air category
NOx
(g/m3)
grades
10
Natural
0 20
quality
9
Clean air
20150
stage 1
8
Clean air
150.1750
stage 2
7
Affected air 750.1-7000
stage 1

Effects on humans

No effects

10.1 30

Effects on
plants
State of natural
equilibrium
No effects

No effects

30.1 100

No effects

50 150

100.1-700

Plants
affection

150.1 - 300

700.1
5000
5000.1
6000.0

Chronic plants
affection
Reduced
visibility 68
km
Steel corrosion

300.1700

State of natural health

Dust
(g/m3)
< 10

Affected air
stage 2
Polluted air
stage 1

7000.175000
75000.1350000

Increase of death rate,

bronchitis and lungs
diseases
Respiratory
symptoms
Increase death rate
due to lung cancer

Polluted air
stage 2
Degraded air
stage 1

350000
550000
550000
700000

Increase of daily
death rate
Large increase of
daily death rate

6000.1
7000.0
7000.1
8500.0

Degraded air
stage 2

700000 750000

Lethal effects at
medium exposures

8500.1 10000

Not
breathable

>750000

Lethal effects at short

exposures

> 10000

6
5
4
3

Noxious
effects on
plants
Noxious
effects on
environment
Desert
landscape

VOC
(mg/m3)
0 20
20 50

700 - 1000
10003000
3000 5000
5000 -10000
>10000

In order to establish an evaluation scale for soil quality, it was taken in

account the following quality indicators: heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cd, and
total Cr), total organic carbon (TOC) and extractable compounds in petroleum
ether (Table 4). In the next step, the evaluation grades are calculated for each
environmental component, as an arithmetic mean of the grades received for
quality indicators that are affected by industrial activities and production
processes. These values are used for a graphical representation that depicts the
combined effect produced by all types of pollution. If three environmental
components were analyzed, the geometric figure is a triangle; for the case when
four environmental components were analyzed, the geometric figure is a square,
etc. In this diagram the ideal state is represented by a regular geometric figure,
54

Environmental impact assessment for an ironed metals process

with equal rays having a value of 10 units (grade 10 representing the natural
quality of environmental components). The real state is expressed by connecting
the dots resulted from evaluation, generating an irregular geometric figure
enclosed into the regular geometric figure that corresponds to the ideal state
having a smaller area.
Table 4. Evaluation scale for environmental component soil
Evaluation
grades
10
9

Cu
(mg/kg)

Zn
(mg/kg)

Pb
(mg/kg)

Ni
(mg/kg)

Cd
(mg/kg)

Cr total
(mg/kg)

TOC
(%)

0 100
100250

01
15

0 30
30 150

<3
3 - 3.2

100150

200350

5.1 7

150300

250.1
500
500.1
550
550.1
600
600.1
650
650.1
700
700.1
800
> 800

0 100
100
250
250.1
550
550.1
750
750.1
800
800.1
850
850.1
900
900.1 950
950.1
1000
> 1000

0 50
50 200

0 100
100
250
250.1
550
550.1
750
750.1
800
800.1
850
850.1
900
900.1 950
950.1
1000
> 1000

350500

7.1 10

500750

10.115

750800

15.1-20

800
850
850
900
900
1000
> 1000

20.125

300.1
600
600
750
750.1
800
800.1
850
850.1
900
900.1
1000
> 1000

3.2 3.4
3.4 3.6
3.6 3.8
3.8
4.0
4.0
4.5
4.5 - 7

6
5
4
3
2
1

25.140
4050
> 50

7 - 10
> 10

Extractable
compounds
(mg/kg)
< 100
100.1-500.0
500.1-1000
1000.12000
2000.13750
3750.15000
5000.16250
6250.17500
7500.110000
> 10000

The index of global pollution (IGP) is defined as follows (Eq. 1):

S
I GP = i
Sr

(1)

where Si represents the area of a geometric shape that include the investigated
environmental components for the ideal state of the environment, and Sr is the
area that represents real state (evaluated situation).
According to literature (Macoveanu, 2003; Morris et al., 1995; Rojanschi
et al., 1997) the value of IGP can range between 1 and 6 and, for each value, a
real situation corresponds (Table 5).
Table 5. The values of global pollution index (IGP)
Values of IGP
IGP = 1
1 <IGP < 2
2 <IGP < 3
3 <IGP < 4
4 <IGP < 6
6

Effects / real situation

Natural environment, not affected by industrial/human activities
Environment modified by industrial activities within admissible limits
Environment modified by industrial activities causing discomfort conditions
Environment modified by industrial activities causing distress to life forms
Environment modified by industrial activities, dangerous for life forms
Degraded environment, not proper for life forms

55

Robu et al/Environmental Engineering and Management Journal 4 (2005), 1, 51-65

3. Experimental data
3.1. Samples
The magnitude of environmental potential pollution was established based
on the analysis of specific air pollutants (with significant impact on air, and soil
around the pollution sources), as well as on the analysis of soil samples from the
evaluated site, where the industrial process is built up. The number of samples
was dependent on the size of industrial site and the sources of pollution. For the
environmental component soil, there were analyzed 16 soil samples from the
industrial site (at 5 cm and 30 cm depth), and one soil sample from 5 km far of
the industrial site. For the environmental component water, there were analyzed
2 samples from surface water (natural receptor), 2 samples of groundwater from
evaluated site, while for environmental component air 5 samples were analyzed.
3.2. Analytical techniques for soil samples
Extractable compounds
The extractable compounds from soil samples have been analyzed by
method of extraction with petroleum ether, concordant to national legislation
(STAS, 1996). The soil samples dried at room temperature for one day were
powdered in a mortar and sieved. 10 g of this soil sample were mixed with 50
mL of petroleum ether used as solvent for extraction. After 20 minutes, the
suspension was filtrated over 1 g of anhydrous sodium sulphate. The extract was
collected and after the solvent was evaporated in a drying oven (at maximum 400
C), the extract was weighed.
Total organic carbon (TOC)
In order to determine the total organic carbon, the soil samples were
treated with potassium dichromate, in the presence of sulphuric acid, and the
excess of potassium dichromate was titrated with Mohr solution and feroin as
indicator (yellow-red-green).
Chromium, copper, lead, zinc, nickel and cadmium ions
2 g of powdered and dried soil were extracted into a Berzelius flask at
room temperature, and 5 mL of concentrated nitric acid were added. The sample
was mineralized until the residue was completely white. If the residue didnt
completely mineralize, after the acid evaporation, 2 mL of perchloric acid were
added, according to method SR ISO 11047/1999 (STANDARD, 1999). The
residue was completely dissolved in a solution of 4% nitric acid and then
filtrated, using paper filter with 0.45 m porosity. The content of heavy metals
was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy, using a Perkin Elmer
spectrophotometer.

56

Environmental impact assessment for an ironed metals process

3.3. Analytical techniques for water samples

The surface water samples have been taken from natural receptors, near
by evaluated site, upstream and downstream of effluent discharge. The quality
indicators have been analyzed by standardized methods, according to
Governmental Acts (Governmental Decision, 2002a; Governmental Order,
2002a). The ions of heavy metals were analyzed by the atomic absorption
spectrophotometer.
3.4. Analytical techniques for air samples
Considering the characteristics of industrial processes and taking in
account the national legislation (Governmental Order, 1993; Governmental
Order, 2002; Governmental Decision, 2003), it was measured the gaseous
emissions when the installations work. The emissions were analyzed using an
automatic analyzer OLDHAM MX 21 Plus type.
4. Results and discussions
The results of analyses are presented in Tables 6-16; these data were
further considered in environmental impact assessment.
Table 6. The results of physical-chemical analyses of surface water
No.

Quality indicators

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23

pH
Total floating materials, mg/L
Turbidity (Formazine Turbidity Unit)
COD-Cr, mg O2/l
BOD5, mg/L
NO3-, mg/L
NO2-, mg/L
PO43-, mg/L
SO42-, mg/L
Hardness, German degrees
Extractable compounds, mg/L
Cl-, mg/L
Residues, mg/L
Ammonium, mg/L
Sulphurs and H2S, mg/L
Total Cr (Cr3++Cr6+), mg/L
Total Fe, mg/L
Cu2+, mg/L
Ni2+, mg/L
Cd2+, mg/L
Zn2+, mg/L
Hg2+, mg/L
Pb2+, mg/L
*
Under Detection Limit

Upstream
8.0
14
11
14.79
5.06
21.2
0.027
0.009
126.74
15.68
UDL*
21.36
745
0.093
UDL
0
0.1
0.05
0
0
0
0
0

Downstream
7.6
20
7
28.9
1.87
28.84
0.081
0.022
232.5
13.36
UDL
28.48
1257.5
UDL
UDL
0.02
1.2
0.1
0
0
0
0
0.2

Order 1146 / 2002

Water Quality II
6.5 8.5
25
5
13.3
0.2
0.3
150
100
500
0.3
0.002
0.1
0.002
0.001
0.001
0.005
0.0001
0.001

57

Robu et al/Environmental Engineering and Management Journal 4 (2005), 1, 51-65

Table 7. The results of physical chemical analyses of ground waters

No.
1
2
3

Quality indicators

Sample
(A1)

Sample
(A2)

Drinking water Law

458/2002

Order 1146/2002
Water Quality II

6.7
2
1

7.2
3
2

6.5- 9.5
5

6.5- 9.5
-

4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

pH
Total floating materials, mg/L
Turbidity (Formazine Turbidity
Unit)
COD-Cr, mgO2/L
BOD5, mgO2/L
NO3-,mg/L
Ammonium, mg/L
NO2-, mg/L
PO43-, mg/L
SO42-, mg/L
Cl-, mg/L
Sulphurs and H2S, mg/L
Hardness, German degrees
Extractable compounds, mg/L
Residues, mg/L

14.79
1.75
154.305
0
0
0.0052
494.62
42.62
0.52
26.88
41.5
1607.5

13.51
5.62
131.82
0
0
0.0025
512.93
51.44
0.18
28.12
40.12
1423.2

25
5
13.3

16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23

Total Cr (Cr3++Cr+6), mg/L

Total Fe (Fe2++Fe3+), mg/L
Cu2+, mg/L
Ni2+, mg/L
Cd2+, mg/L
Zn2+, mg/L
Hg2+, mg/L
Pb2+, mg/L

0.025
UDL
0.56
0
0
0.025
0
0.15

0.02
0.03
0.78
0
0
0.05
0
0.22

5.0
50
0.5
0.5
0.1
250
max. 250
0.1
min. 5
min.100
max.800
0.05
0.2
0.1
0.02
0.005
5
0.001
0.01

0.2
0.3
150
100
500
0.002
0.1
0.002
0.001
0.001
0.005
0.0001
0.001

Table 8. The results of physical chemical analyses of soil samples (5 cm depth of

sampling)
The depth of sampling 5 cm
Extractable compounds (mg/kg)
Organic carbon
(%)
Normal values
Alert values
MAC*
S1
4.31
< 100
1000
2000
S2
3.58
< 100
1000
2000
S3
3.45
< 100
1000
2000
S4
4.28
< 100
1000
2000
S5
4.10
< 100
1000
2000
S6
3.82
< 100
1000
2000
S7
4.54
< 100
1000
2000
S8
4.45
< 100
1000
2000
S9
3.58
< 100
1000
2000
S10
4.26
< 100
1000
2000
S11
6.40
< 100
1000
2000
S12
3.76
< 100
1000
2000
S13
4.52
< 100
1000
2000
S14
4.69
< 100
1000
2000
S15
7.59
< 100
1000
2000
Etalon
2.44
< 100
1000
2000
*
MAC Maximal allowed concentration
Soil sample

58

Measured values
3720
940
3380
27480
2880
9330
670
720
110
840
250
100
140
660
700
180

Environmental impact assessment for an ironed metals process

Table 9. The results of physical chemical analyses of soil samples (30 cm depth of
sampling)
Soil sample
S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7
S8
S9
S10
S11
S12
S13
S14
S15
Etalon

Organic carbon
(%)
2.82
3.52
3.60
2.87
3.08
3.28
4.00
3.95
4.32
4.50
5.96
3.71
4.52
3.52
7.47
2.38

The depth of sampling 30 cm

Extractable compounds (mg/kg)
Normal values
Alert values
MAC
< 100
1000
2000
< 100
1000
2000
< 100
1000
2000
< 100
1000
2000
< 100
1000
2000
< 100
1000
2000
< 100
1000
2000
< 100
1000
2000
< 100
1000
2000
< 100
1000
2000
< 100
1000
2000
< 100
1000
2000
< 100
1000
2000
< 100
1000
2000
< 100
1000
2000
< 100
1000
2000

Measured values
2830
600
11730
15090
3140
5012
1870
950
280
330
380
2540
440
780
337
195

Table 10. The content of total chromium from soil samples

Soil
sample

Normal values

Alert values

S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7
S8
S9
S10
S11
S12
S13
S14
S15
Etalon

30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30

300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
100

Total Cr (mg/kg)
MAC
Measured values at
5 cm
600
28.12
600
181.01
600
30.10
600
56.78
600
79.92
600
26.10
600
61.66
600
21.28
600
75.01
600
69.12
600
20.13
600
18.71
600
21.08
600
42.61
600
27.11
300
17.89

Measured values at
30 cm
23.18
49.12
27.12
86.10
58.42
23.16
58.12
20.12
76.25
51.05
20.08
17.02
21.00
31.11
23.42
17.51

Table 11. The content of lead from soil samples

Soil
sample

Normal values

Alert values

S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7

20
20
20
20
20
20
20

250
250
250
250
250
250
250

Total Pb (mg/kg)
MAC
Measured values at
5 cm
1000
14.11
1000
49.15
1000
16.21
1000
53.81
1000
41.75
1000
18.11
1000
32.12

Measured values at
30 cm
10.50
47.20
20.12
68.12
90.05
17.65
30.08

59

Robu et al/Environmental Engineering and Management Journal 4 (2005), 1, 51-65

Table 11 (continued)
S8
S9
S10
S11
S12
S13
S14
S15
Etalon

20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20

250
250
250
250
250
250
250
250
50

1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
100

18.61
22.62
13.08
10.62
13.10
5.86
8.33
5.56
1.36

20.40
30.76
14.11
11.14
14.44
6.03
9.12
5.58
1.88

Table 12. The content of copper from soil samples

Soil
sample

Normal values

Alert values

Cu (mg/kg)
MAC

S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7
S8
S9
S10
S11
S12
S13
S14
S15
Etalon

20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20

250
250
250
250
250
250
250
250
250
250
250
250
250
250
250
100

500
500
500
500
500
500
500
500
500
500
500
500
500
500
500
200

Measured values
at 5 cm
22.51
82.13
24.10
91.12
69.65
21.95
10.61
15.64
38.60
11.56
8.12
15.11
7.12
18.99
5.65
8.12

Measured values
at 30 cm
16.52
36.12
18.12
65.10
77.10
20.55
9.12
15.36
21.12
5.62
5.61
13.20
7.08
12.11
5.91
8.31

Table 13. The content of zinc from soil samples

Soil sample
S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7
S8
S9
S10
S11
S12
S13
S14
S12
Etalon

60

Normal values

Alert values

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

250
250
250
250
250
250
250
250
250
250
250
250
250
250
250
50

Zn (mg/kg)
MAC
Measured values at
5 cm
1000
47.52
1000
71.10
1000
49.81
1000
131.07
1000
110.32
1000
44.10
1000
88.10
1000
113.54
1000
98.44
1000
43.21
1000
49.33
1000
35.14
1000
29.44
1000
98.66
1000
22.13
100
7.21

Measured values at
30 cm
41.26
68.12
44.15
126.12
91.16
44.07
56.08
99.55
56.71
25.61
38.77
30.19
28.77
65.87
21.88
6.54

Environmental impact assessment for an ironed metals process

Table 14. The content of nickel from soil samples

Soil
sample

Normal values

Alert values

S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7
S8
S9
S10
S11
S12
S13
S14
S15
Etalon

20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20

200
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
75

Ni (mg/kg)
MAC
500
500
500
500
500
500
500
500
500
500
500
500
500
500
500
150

Measured values at
5 cm
23.77
146.23
26.41
58.11
51.81
30.54
25.16
41.13
30.12
31.41
37.33
36.11
25.33
22.12
19.87
14.33

Measured values at
30 cm
24.86
53.13
29.89
56.09
45.72
27.12
22.36
63.33
41.12
71.45
31.22
28.71
21.33
22.08
16.45
13.45

Table 15. The content of cadmium from soil samples

Soil
sample

Normal values

Alert values

S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7
S8
S9
S10
S11
S12
S13
S14
S15
Etalon

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
3

Cd (mg/kg)
MAC
Measured values at
5 cm
10
1.56
10
9.71
10
11.12
10
10.11
10
1.96
10
1.99
10
1.65
10
3.77
10
4.12
10
5.82
10
1.91
10
2.71
10
4.32
10
5.12
10
3.75
5
0.98

Measured values
at 30 cm
1.28
2.68
5.69
14.12
1.41
1.54
1.42
3.12
3.71
5.11
1.20
2.50
4.20
4.32
3.01
0.96

The quantification of environmental impact was performed by the method

of global pollution index. The evaluation grades for each representative
environmental component (surface water, ground water from evaluated site, air
and soil) were obtained based on the results of physical chemical analyses.
Considering the measured values of quality indicators for surface water,
the evaluation grades of representative quality indicators have the following
values:
COD Cr grade 7;
BOD5 grade 10;
Ammonium grade 10;
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Robu et al/Environmental Engineering and Management Journal 4 (2005), 1, 51-65

NO3- grade 6;
SO42- grade 7;
Residues grade 6;
Total Fe grade 5.
The evaluation grade for surface water is: E.G.s.w. = 7.28.
Table 16. The results of gaseous fluxes analysis
Source of
pollution
Sample E1

Pollutant

Measured value,
mg/m3
31
- VOC
48
- NOx
UDL
- Dust*
27
Sample E2
- VOC
51
- NOx
7.5
- Dust*
Sample E3
- VOC
10
- NOx
48
- Dust*
5
34
Sample E4
- VOC
56
- NOx
- Dust
18
38
Sample E5
- VOC
62
- NOx
*
4.28
- Dust
*
- particles with d >10 m

MAC, Order
462/1993,mg/m3
350
5
350
5
350
5
350
5
350
5

Massy flow rate,

Kg/year
7241.6
11212.8
UDL
1166.016
3335.808
490.056
615
2952
307.5
8085.2
133168
4280.4
1589.16
2592.84
8.364

MAC, Order
1144/2002, Kg/year
100000
100000
50000
100000
100000
50000
100000
100000
50000
100000
100000
50000
100000
100000
50000

To calculate the evaluation grade for ground water, there were taken in
account the following quality indicators: COD-Cr, residue, total iron, total
chromium, copper, zinc and lead, and the evaluation grades are:
COD-Cr grade 8;
Residue grade 5;
Total Cr grade 8;
Total Fe grade 10;
Cu grade 3;
Zn grade 8;
Pb grade 3.
The evaluation grade for ground water is: E.G.g.w. = 6.43.
The evaluation grade for environmental component air was obtained
considering the measured values of pollutants concentrations, such as VOC,
NOx, and dust:
VOC - grade 9;
NOx grade 6;
Dust grade 6.
The evaluation grade for air is: E.G.a. = 7.00.
The evaluation grade for soil was calculated considering the measured
values of total organic carbon, extractable compounds and heavy metals (Cu, Zn,
Pb, Cr total, Ni, Cd).
62

Environmental impact assessment for an ironed metals process

Thus, the following values were found:

Total organic carbon - grade 7;
Extractable compounds grade 6;
Cu grade 10;
Zn grade 9;
Pb grade 10;
Total Cr grade 9;
Ni grade 10;
Cd grade 9.
The evaluation grade for soil is: E.G.s. = 8.75.

For environmental component soil it can be observed that, considering

only the pollution with heavy metals, the contamination is under the maximal
allowed concentrations (MAC).
The next step in environmental impact assessment was the quantification
of impact by calculating the value of global pollution index, taking in account
the evaluation grades obtained by each environmental component (surface water:
7.28, ground water: 6.43, air: 7.00, soil: 8.75). As it was described before, the
global pollution index is defined as ratio between the area which describes the
ideal state and the area which describes the real state (Eq. 1). In this situation the
geometrical figure is a square (Fig.1).

Fig. 1. The calculation of global pollution index: Si- ideal state of environment (200
cm2); Sr- real state of environment (103.4 cm2); 1 environmental component soil; 2
environmental component air; 3 environmental component ground water; 4
environmental component surface water.

The resulted value is IGP = 1.93, and comparing this value with data
presented in Table 5, this means that the environment is modified by industrial
activities within admissible limits.

63

Robu et al/Environmental Engineering and Management Journal 4 (2005), 1, 51-65

5. Conclusions
The method of global pollution index was applied for a preliminary
evaluation of quality of environmental components, and to assess the pollutants
that are resulted from industrial activities.
The results show that the method has some advantages: offers a global
overview of environment state, of its quality; allows the comparison of some
regions between them, with requirement that these regions have to be analyzed
based on the same quality indicators; allows, at different moments, the
comparison of environmental states from one region, offering the possibility to
overview the evolution of environmental components, quality and global quality
of environment. The disadvantage of this method consists in high grade of
subjective approach, generated by calculation of evaluation grades, which
depends very much on evaluators experience.
It has to be mentioned that that disadvantage were diminished by
elaborating a very strict evaluation scale, in which there have been taken into
account the maximal allowed values of chosen quality indicators, according to
the latest national legislative regulations, concordant to European legislation.
The experimental data were obtained by standard methods analysis of
considered quality indicators; methods that are international approved (ISO).
From assessment of environmental impact, it resulted that the air, ground
water from evaluated site, and surface water obtained the lowest evaluation
grades, which means that the industrial activities involved in steel processing
have a negative impact on quality of air, ground and surface waters.
Considering these aspects, it is necessary to increase the efficiency of
equipments used to retain dust and NOx, and it is recommended to improve the
performance of local plants/installations/equipments used for treatment of
industrial waste waters, in order to minimize the impact produced on
environmental components air, ground water and surface water.
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64

Environmental impact assessment for an ironed metals process

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65