What is this mineral?
Steel, the material we use in creating car body panels, to the utensils we use to feed ourselves that ever-so coveted slice of cake, is used on a daily basis. Steel is a combination of iron, with a small amount of carbon. In order to make steel, metallic iron must be extracted from iron ore. There are many different types of steel, depending on the other elements mixed with the iron. Whereas pure iron is relatively soft metal that rusts easily, steel can be hard, tough and resistant to corrosion. Steel is the least expensive and most widely used of all metals.
Where, in general is steel produced?
Today, steel is mass-produced in a variety of different countries around the world. In 2015, the global crude steel production was 1,599.5 million metric tonnes, with China by far the largest producer, accounting roughly 50 percent of that number (Wikipedia, “List of countries by steel production,” accessed 2/26/17). According to the World Steel Association, China, Japan, India, the United States and Russia rank (in order) as the top five producers of steel. It is now a major component in “buildings, infrastructure, tools, ships, automobiles, machines, appliances, and weapons” (Wikipedia, “Steel,” accessed 2/26/17). The World Steel Association highlights similar key areas of interest to the steel industry, including automotive, climate change, communications, construction, and sustainability (World Steel Association, “Who We Are,” accessed 2/26/17). The top five importers of steel in 2013 were the United States, Germany, South Korea, Thailand and Italy.
What are some potential environmental impacts of production and consumption of steel?
A major form of environmental impact that steel has comes from the processes of coking and iron-making. Greenhouse gas emissions in steelmaking come from the carbon dioxide emissions related to the large energy consumption. Steel mills use a massive amount of energy, therefore producing many emissions into the air. Energy consumption in steel production represents about 2.5% of domestic energy use and about 8% of all U.S. manufacturing energy use. Steel mills have high amounts of carbon dioxide emissions and much of the pollution that comes with the production of steel is the process of coking. The coking process emits particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and methane at approximately 100 grams per metric ton (g/t) of coke; ammonia; carbon monoxide; hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide; and sulfur oxides. These are all major sources of pollution to the air in the areas where steel mills are located. Not only is the air impacted by steel production, but the water is also contaminated when combined with the cooling water used to cool the coke after it has been baked. Most pollutants can, however, be removed through filtration, but large amount of water is still used in the process of making steel. Slag is the most abundant by-product of steel production but is also an important raw material for the concrete industry, reducing mineral extraction and CO2 emissions at the same time and not resulting in the slag ending up in landfills. Last but not least, steelmaking has a high consumption of electricity use, and while not a direct impact of steelmaking, coal and gas burning energy sources are high in greenhouse gas emissions and are a significant component of the steel-industry energy usage.
Site of Production #1: Hamilton, Canada
Hamilton is a diverse city, rich is both industry and beauty. It is located on the coast of Ontario, Canada at the west end of Lake Ontario, in an area deemed the “Golden Horseshoe”. The area of Hamilton is 439.43 square miles with a population of 536,917. That leads to the high population density of 1,245 people per square mile. Hamilton residents value the family aspect that the city of Hamilton offers, as well as the booming economy, ranked the most diverse in Ontario. Most of the city is located on the south shore, including the downtown area, so many residents get the opportunity to live and be around the beach. Not only is Hamilton right on the coast but, according to Wikipedia, Hamilton has humid-continental climate, characterized by changeable weather patterns- mild weather compared to other parts of Canada.
Hamilton’s diversity spreads further than appearances, it also pronounced itself a sanctuary city in 2014, so there are many immigrants walking around the city. In fact, 20 percent of the residents are not originally from Canada. While rich in immigrants, Hamilton is also rich in steel production. The city of Hamilton, however, prides itself on not simply being seen as a “steel city”, but prefers to call themselves “The Ambitious City”, in order to represent their ability to move upwards- economically and socially. Through the diversity, Hamilton remains Canada’s largest steel producer, producing 60% of Canada’s steel by the companies Stelco and Dofasco. That being said, Hamilton’s economy has transformed from blue-collar steel making, to an economy based on technology, advanced manufacturing, education, and health and life sciences and exemplifying the diverse economy. A combination of the steel mills and the high population density of vehicles in Hamilton lead to increased pollution levels in the city.
Hamilton’s rich steel industry does imply that it is not rich in beauty and nature, it is in fact filled with many opportunities for outdoor exploration. Hamilton’s location on the coast of Lake Ontario gives tourists and residents the opportunity to explore the coastline, but also enjoy forests, waterfalls, campsites, parks, and countryside. All of these beautiful places are also in close proximity to the downtown area of Hamilton. In downtown Hamilton you can find the most happening, with the Canadian sports hall of fame, a large number of two or three story townhouses or apartments, and the Downtown Arts Centre. The phrase citizens of Hamilton use is “If don’t like Hamilton, you’ve never been to Hamilton”.
Site of Production #2: Tangshan, China
Tangshan, situated about 200km east of Beijing is a city that thrives on industrial production. What with being 1 of 3 key iron ore mining areas (a key material in steelmaking) in China and producing more steel annually than the US, the city’s 7 million inhabitants live in an industrial jungle, with steel an integral aspect of life there. Tangshan was virtually destroyed by an earthquake, measuring at 7.8 magnitude in 1976. Tangshan will forever be associated with the earthquake, which was believed to be the largest earthquake of the 20th century by death. However, the citizens of Tangshan have sought to re-build and transform the city over the decade, successfully creating a reputation as a heavy-industry powerhouse, even being labelled as the “Brave City of China.” The production and manufacturing of steel is integral to the life of Tangshan’s citizens, both on an individual and collective level. Tangshan lies on the north of the Bohai Sea and with its maritime links became one of China’s first industrial centers. Indeed there is a strong sense of industrial heritage including being the site of China’s first mechanized coalmine, first freight locomotive and first cement plant.”
The natural deposits of coal and iron ore across the region have fuelled a flourishing steel sector, encouraged by governmental policies-which favoured rapid economic development and urbanisation. Indeed according to global rankings of steel output, the city of Tangshan produced more steel in 2013 than the entire European Union. The steel industry is a key source of employment and development for citizens. The legacy of China’s rapid development is evident in Tangshan, with problems with overcapacity in the steel sector, which has caused economic instability. Government plans to cut the tonnes of steel capacity, due to persistently weakening global demand, over-production and environmental pressures are reflected in the closing of blast furnaces and steel processing plants. This has led to frustration towards government and social unrest, as demonstrated by a rise in workers’ strikes and depleting local economies: “The supermarkets were always full of people. Many businesses opened up…People consumed a lot…Now the mills have closed…My business has suffered.”
It is no secret that China’s rapid development has led to mounting concerns over the environmental impacts of its industrial output. Indeed the air quality of Tangshan is currently estimated at 173-a level that places Tangshan within the 10 most polluted cities in China. Those that are most affected are the workers and residents themselves with “eye-watering levels of pollution” and daily thick smog putting residents at risk of many health issues including rhinitis, pharyngitis and other respiratory conditions. Indeed, Tangshan is just a cross-sectional view of this problem with “1.2 million premature deaths in China were linked to air pollution in 2010 alone.” This too affects the local environment and the citizens’ relationship with nature: with the purity of nature taking a back-seat, as its supply of rich and varied natural resources, teamed with ample unused land is exploited for the use of steel and other industrial purposes. However tougher controls on air pollution and governmental pressure on heavily polluting steel plants is forcing Tangshan to change and adapt to keep with China’s movement from a developing to a mature, developed nation with an aim of rebalancing the economy to a less energy-hungry method of growth.
Site of Production #3: Durgapur, India
India is a large producer of steel, ranked third country globally by the world steel association in 2015. The nation highly values steel as a product, even dedicating a branch of its government, the Ministry of Steel, to policies regarding steel production, associating closely with the companies TATA Steel Limited and The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). Durgapur, popularly known as the Steel City of West Bengal, is situated in East India and is very much central to the Durgapur Steel Plant (DSP) (Wikipedia, “Ministry of Steel,” accessed 2/26/17). The DSP is one of the five large integrated Steel plants operated by SAIL and has provides constant income to the citizens.
` The city is framed by two rivers, the Ajoy and Damodar and was named after the son of the original owner of the land, Durgadas. It is industrialized, and known world-wide for the range of industries that it supplies. Durgapur experiences a transitional, temperate climate with moderate temperatures that fluctuate through monsoon season. Tourism-wise, the Plant itself was listed ninth to visit in the city, recommended as “enriching not only for students and industry oriented people but also for common people.” (TripAdvisor, “Things to Do in Durgapur,” accessed 2/26/17)
Despite the prominent industry in the city, there are many different surrounding areas of natural beauty such as parks and bodies of water (Durgapur City, “Travel Tourism,” accessed 2/26/17). Given the situation of the city between the two rivers, there should be some concern addressing the possible pollution of the water quality, but it is mostly unnoted by the citizens. The people of Durgapur view the steel plant in a very positive light, as it has provided jobs, medical and educational facilities. Previous employees have noted “heartfelt contributions and warm associations” to their lives and thankfulness regarding the other ways the plant has shaped their experiences and the well-being of their families (Facebook, “Official Page of DSP,” accessed 2/26/17). There is a strong sense of pride for the relatively new, and rowing community in Durgapur.
Conclusion
It is valuable to understand that the production of steel may have consequential environmental impacts, such as the high concentration of greenhouse gases that steel mills produce and the pollution of air and water. That being said, the steel industry is highly valued by the surrounding communities. Many residents of these communities are highly appreciative of the the effects on their economies and the opportunities that have arisen. In cities like Durgapur, other structures have been formed, providing other advantages and incentives to give back to their community. In other places, such as Hamilton, steel remains an integral part of the community, but is only a fraction of the economy and culture. In Tangshan, the steel mill was a way to rebuild a community after disaster and remains a constant source of income and sense of identity to the population.
It is beneficial to note that while there are ecological repercussions to the production of steel, there are constant improvements to the ways that steel impacts the environment. Given the greenhouse gas emissions are a negative force on the air, the members of the communities that are surrounded by that air make their living from the production of steel and are proud of the industry. Looking at the communities that we each explored and researched it became clear that there are certain facts surrounding the production of steel that should be identified and considered by consumers when evaluating their consumption of steel and how the impact that their actions have on a local and global scale.
Having discussed what we discovered about steel and its production during this project we believe that consumers should be made aware of some various facts about steel. Steel has a rich background, with a rich history both in production and consumption which is evident in the development and evolution of many nations worldwide. It is valuable to note that some communities are built off and around the production and consumption of steel, with three examples explored above. Our brief exploration of these three different places (Hamilton, Durgapur and Tangshan)in this post highlights how steel can be at the very core of a community. Whilst the production of steel might not normally be associated with recycling or sustainability, 97% of steel products can in fact be re-used with millions of tons of iron and steel diverted away from the waste stream to the recycling stream due to steel’s magnetic properties that make it the easiest material to separate from the solid waste stream. Perhaps the most important aspect of steel production to take into account as a consumer is to remember that steel industry is a huge driving economic force. Indeed the steel industry employs more than 2 million people worldwide, with a further 2 million contractors and four million people in supporting industries. Having explored the role of the production of steel in Hamilton, Durgapur and Tangshan it is clear just how vital steel is to the creation, development and survival of these communities.
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References
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Greenspec Corp. “Steel production & environmental impact.” Greenspec. Accessed February 28, 2017. http://www.greenspec.co.uk/building-design/steel-products-and-environmental-impact/.
“Steel.” Wikipedia. February 26, 2017. Accessed February 28, 2017. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel.
“Hamilton, Ontario.” Wikipedia. February 27, 2017. Accessed February 28, 2017. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton,_Ontario.
MacLeod, Meredith. “Hamilton’s economy: Exploring the next 25 years.” Hamilton’s economy: Exploring the next 25 years. August 08, 2015. Accessed February 28, 2017. http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/5788939-hamilton-s-economy-exploring-the-next-25-years/.
“Durgapur.” Wikipedia. February 27, 2017. Accessed February 27, 2017. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durgapur.
“Official Page of DSP.” Durgapur Steel Plant. Accessed February 28, 2017. https://www.facebook.com/OfficialPageofDSP/?ref=page_internal.
“Iron and steel industry in India.” Wikipedia. February 20, 2017. Accessed February 27, 2017. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_and_steel_industry_in_India.
image: “Steel mill.” Wikipedia. February 17, 2017. Accessed February 28, 2017. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_mill.