INDUSTRIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE EMISSION OF PARTICULATE MATTER IN THE ATMOSPHERE

The present investigation consists of the application of several techn iques such as Mossbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, atomic absorp tion electron probe micro analysis (EPMA), and thermo-gravimetric anal ysis, to the identification of the particulate matter in atmospheric a erosols in the metropolitan region of Vitoria (MRV), ES, Brazil. The m ain sources of particulate matter and its emission characteristics wit hin the steel industry have been studied to identify its contribution to air particles in Vitoria region. The analysis reveals the total amo unt of industrial emission of the iron containing components in the at mosphere. The presence of goethite, hematite, magnetite, pyrite, silic ates, marine chloride and total absence of heavy metals could be confi rmed.