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Q24 (IAS/2014) Environment & Ecology › Pollution & Conservation › Air pollution and health Official Key

Which of the following are some important pollutants released by steel industry in India? 1. Oxides of sulphur 2. Oxides of nitrogen 3. Carbon monoxide 4. Carbon dioxide Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Result
Your answer: —  Âˇ  Correct: D
Explanation

Emission standards for steel plants define permissible limits for pollutants such as particulate matter (PM), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and carbon monoxide (CO)[1], confirming that all three of these are important pollutants from the steel industry. Additionally, the incomplete burning of coal and coke in the steel industry can release carbon monoxide into the air[2].

While carbon dioxide is not always classified as a traditional "pollutant" in the same sense as toxic gases, carbon dioxide (CO₂) is the primary greenhouse gas emitted through human activities[3], and human activities like industry, transportation, and agriculture have released enormous amounts of these 'greenhouse gases'[4]. The steel industry, being energy-intensive and reliant on coal combustion, is a significant source of CO2 emissions.

Therefore, all four pollutants—oxides of sulphur, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide—are important pollutants released by the steel industry in India. The correct answer is option D (1, 2, 3 and 4).

Sources
  1. [1] https://steel.gov.in/sites/default/files/2025-03/GSI%20Report.pdf
  2. [2] https://abhipedia.abhimanu.com/Article/1079/NDYyMzYz/Consider-the-following-pollutants-1-Oxides-of-sulfur-2-Particulate-Matter-3-Oxides-Minerals-
  3. [3] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 17: Climate Change > 12.3.2 Carbon Dioxide > p. 255
  4. [4] Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Climates of India > Fossil fuels: > p. 64
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Q. Which of the following are some important pollutants released by steel industry in India? 1. Oxides of sulphur 2. Oxides of nitrogen 3. C…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Moderate fairness Books / CA: 7.5/10 ¡ 2.5/10
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This question rewards 'Process Logic' over rote memorization. You don't need a government report on steel; you only need to know that steel plants burn coal/coke. If an industry burns fossil fuels, it automatically emits the 'Big 4' (SOx, NOx, CO2, CO). The strategy is to map Inputs (Coal) to Outputs (Emissions).

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Are oxides of sulphur (SOx) among the important pollutants emitted by the steel industry in India?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 5: Environmental Pollution > Fly ash notification zozr > p. 67
Presence: 4/5
“Fly Ash Notification 67 was issued by MoEFCC under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986. • The notification has made provision for the enforcement, monitoring, audit and reporting of the progress of fly ash utilisation and implementation by coal thermal power plants and user agencies. • The Notification makes the CPCB and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCts) / Pollution Control Committees (PCC) responsible for monitoring the effective implementation of the mandates. • Name tlf Pollutant: Sulphur Oxides; Sources: Thermal power plants and industries; Health [ffects: Eye and throat jrritation, cough, allergies, impairs enzyme function in respiratory system. Reduces exchange of gases from lung surface. • Name tlf Pollutant: Nitrogen Oxides; Sources: Thermai power plant, industries and vehicles; Health [ffects: Irritation and inflammation of lungs, breathlessness, impairs enzyme function in respiratory system and causes bronchitis and asthma All Rights Reserved.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly names 'Sulphur Oxides' as a pollutant and lists 'industries' among its sources.
  • Links SOx to industrial emissions and describes associated health effects, supporting inclusion of SOx in industrial pollutant lists.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 6: Environmental Degradation and Management > Consequences of Air Pollution > p. 40
Presence: 4/5
“Nitrogen Oxide: 15. Smog (Te term smog was coined by Dr. H .A. Des Voeux in 1905); Termal power plants, industries and vehicles: Industries and vehicular pollution; Irritation and infammation of lungs, breathlessness, impairs enzyme function in respiratory system and causes bronchitis and asthma.: Respiratory problems and intense irrita tion of eyes. Nitrogen Oxide: 16. Sulphur Oxide; Termal power plants, industries and vehicles: Termal power plants and indus tries; Irritation and infammation of lungs, breathlessness, impairs enzyme function in respiratory system and causes bronchitis and asthma.: Eye and throat irritation, cough, aller gies, impairs respiratory system, reduces exchange of gases from lung surface.”
Why this source?
  • Identifies 'Sulphur Oxide' as emitted by 'thermal power plants, industries and vehicles', reinforcing that industries are a source of SOx.
  • Provides effects of sulphur oxides on respiratory health, indicating their significance as industrial air pollutants.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 6: Environmental Degradation and Management > 6.32 Environment and Ecology > p. 37
Presence: 3/5
“Iron & Steel; Inorganic Pollutants: Suspended solids, iron-cyanide, sulphides, oxides of copper, chromium, cadmium and mercury.; Organic Pollutants: Oil, phenol and neptha • Type of Industry: 4. Mining; Inorganic Pollutants: Mine wastes, various metals, ferrous sulphate, sulphuric acid, hydrogen sulphides, surface wash ofs, etc.; Organic Pollutants: • Type of Industry: 5. Paper & Pulp; Inorganic Pollutants: Sulphides, bleachin liquors; Organic Pollutants: Cellulose fbers, bark, woods sugar organic acids • Type of Industry: 6. Pharmaceutical; Inorganic Pollutants: ; Organic Pollutants: Proteins, carbohydrates, organic solvents products, drugs and antibiotics. • Type of Industry: 7. Soap & Detergent; Inorganic Pollutants: Ammonium compounds alkalies; Organic Pollutants: Flats and fatty acids, glycerol, polyphosphates, hydrocarbons, etc.”
Why this source?
  • Lists inorganic pollutants specific to Iron & Steel, including sulphur-related compounds (sulphides), showing the steel sector emits sulfur-bearing pollutants.
  • Connects the steel industry to a range of inorganic pollutants, supporting inference that sulfur oxides are plausible industrial emissions in this sector when combined with generic 'industries' sources above.
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Statement analysis

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