Air pollution caused by manufacturing coal from petroleum coke in Argentina

Environmental pollution and its harmful consequences for the population’s health derived from coal production in the locality of Ensenada (Argentina) is studied by magnetic and non-magnetic means. Coke is used for the production of industrial coal. This is a final product obtained in petroleum refineries. Coke is a non-magnetic material showing values of magnetic susceptibility close to zero. Conversely, the magnetic susceptibility of the coal released from factory chimneys is considerably enhanced due to the building of magnetic fibers and spherules inside the furnace, used for coal production. Due to this property, the magnetic content of coal can be used as environmental proxy for studying the environmental impact caused by coal industries in urban areas. The values of magnetic susceptibility decrease as the distance from the contamination source increases. This indicates that magnetic concentration is lower. The grain size of magnetic particles also decreases according to the distance, which is seen when analyzing the grain size parameters. According to the different non-magnetic approaches applied, the particles released by the industry, which affect the region, fall within the rank of breathable particles (<2.5 μm). Besides, inhalable particles are also found (2.5–10 μm). Such determinations are consistent with inter-parametric ratios applied in the study of grain sizes. The undesirable dust of the local coal industry also carries heavy metals which are dangerous for the population’s health, like Zn, Cu, Pb and V.