Environmental Impact Evaluation of Isfahan Steel Company and Preventive Strategies: A Case Study

Iron smelting is recognized as one of the largest energy-consuming industries in the world, thus, ethical justification of harms and benefits and evaluation of environmental risks of this project can provide significant economic and social development opportunities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the environmental impacts of Isfahan Iron smelting factory. Recognizing the level of its contamination can provide effective strategies to prevent and reduce potential pollution and environmental damages.

In this analytical study, the status of the Isfahan Iron smelting factory was scored according to environmental principles. Then its environmental impacts and damages were evaluated, and practical recommendations were presented to prevent its destructive effects.

The most important environmental damaging effects and harms of Isfahan Iron smelting factory are water and soil contamination due to wastewater and factory effluents, air pollution due to factory smoke and noise pollution. The highest pollution was related to air pollution and the least pollution was to soil pollution. The physical and biological contamination of the factory, especially in the years 2015 to 2018, was much higher than the economic and social benefits of the factory.

Considering the identified harmful environmental effects, adherence to standard principles in waste management and treatment of industrial wastewater, and also utilization of new knowledge and technologies, in order to prevent damages and occurrence of environmental crimes is recommended.