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Particulate matter, or PM10, consists of small particles that can be inhaled. We are currently also seeing a large decrease in particulate matter emissions. Our Roadmap Plus objective has almost been achieved. This is because we will be completing a number of major projects this year, such as additional environmental installations at the BOS Plant and at the Blast Furnaces, and the construction of a dust removal plant at the Pelletising plant, for which the first pile was driven in September last year. And we won't stop there. We will crack down with, among other things, the Green Steel project.
Explanation of data
- PM10 stands for Particulate Matter smaller than 10 µm, i.e. particles smaller than 10 µm (= 10 millionths of a metre)
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How does the decrease in particulate matter emissions affect air quality?
Above are the graphs from the Amsterdam Municipal Health Service with data from the Luchtmeetnet (air monitoring network). On the left are annual averages, above are the number of peak days. Tata Steel's dust emissions contribute for approx. 20-25% to the PM10 concentrations in IJmond. Because our dust emissions continue to decrease, our contribution to the PM10 concentration in the immediate vicinity will also decrease. By how much is yet to be determined through measurements and calculations. Tata Steel's PM2.5 emissions hardly contribute to the PM2.5 concentration in IJmond.
Sources and explanation of data
- These graphs come from “Datarapport Luchtkwaliteit IJmond 2021”, May 2022, conducted by Amsterdam Municipal Health Service commissioned by North Sea Canal Area environment agency
- The results of the Reyndersweg, Bosweg and Staalstraat measuring points are not tested against the air quality standards because they are too close to the site boundary.
- PM10 stands for Particulate Matter smaller than 10 µm, i.e. particles smaller than 10 µm (= 10 millionths of a metre)
- Source of figures for Rotterdam Lucht in cijfers 2021, luchtkwaliteit in Rijnmond, DCMR Milieudienst Rijnmond / Source of figures for Amsterdam & Groningen: www.luchtmeetnet.nl.
- RIVM and Amsterdam Municipal Health Service use De Rijp to determine background values. Background values indicate the amount of substances measured at points with little industry or traffic.
- The data for Duisburg-Walsum and Ghent have been added for comparison with measuring points in residential areas near a steelmaking plant: Duisburg-Walsum is located approx. 1.5 km from ThyssenKrupp, and Ghent approx. 1 km from ArcelorMittal. These are large, integrated production locations for strip steel in Europe which, together with Tata Steel, constitute the top 3 of steel producers in Europe. Data Duisburg-Walsum from Umweltbundesambt, DENW034 measurement station; data Ghent from Vlaamse Milieu Maatschappij, R740 & GN05 measurement stations.
- For reference, urban data for Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Groningen have been added; these are measured annual average concentrations.
As can be seen in the graphs from the IJmond air quality data report, the PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations in IJmond have been declining for some time, as in the rest of the Netherlands. At the moment, the EU standards for the annual average PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations are amply met. The pink line is Wijk aan Zee. You can see that it is close to the WHO guideline value (2005) (The SLA initially focuses on achieving the WHO guideline values (2005) for particulate matter (PM10 & PM2.5) in 2030)). It is far below the current EU standard. Our measures from Roadmap Plus will help to further reduce the contribution to the PM10 concentration in IJmond. The graph with the number of daily average values >50µg/m3 shows the number of days on which the daily average PM10 concentration is exceeded. This shows that this number has decreased sharply in recent years, which is also reflected in the air quality.
Our measures from Roadmap Plus will help to further reduce the contribution to the PM10 concentration in IJmond. Partly depending on the contributions from other sources in IJmond, it might be possible to achieve the air quality at this WHO value (average annual concentration) in residential areas. However, it is important to realise that Tata Steel has only a minor influence on the PM10 concentration in the area (20-25%) (calculated using data from Verspreidingsberekeningen ZZS bij Tata Steel).
EN - Environment and Living Environment - L2 Dust and Heavy Metals
We are taking measures to further reduce dust and heavy metal emissions.
EN - environment and living environment - emissions and air quality - measuring dust deposition L3
We measure dust deposition in the region using sophisticated techniques.
EN - Environment and Living Environment - L2Roadmap Plus mapped out (3D)
View the measures of our Roadmap Plus programme on this interactive map