Environmental / Social Concerns

Environmental Concerns

     Copper processing produces a number of pollutants.  Both types produce very similar pollutants.  Air pollution usually consists of particulates (iron and copper oxices)  and sulfur dioxide. Particulates are captured mostly using emissions control equipment.  Secondary copper processing pollutes by means of excess oils and cutting fluids.  Air emissions are caught using baghouses.  The sulfur dioxide produced is captures using single stage electrostatic precipitation.  It is then converted into sulfuric acid and sold or reused.  Liquid waste from copper processing is mostly water which can be reused. (10) Therefore copper processing is not a very environmentally damaging process.

     The average "life" of the metal is 30 years.  This means that are is always scrap. Scrap makes up 40% of the copper consumption in the world.  (1)  There are two types of scrap; new scrap and old scrap.  New scrap comes from the process of refining and producing copper.  All of it is reused immediately within the plant.  Some kinds of new scrap are from punching, boring, turning, and cuttings generated in foundries and mills.  Old scrap is derived from old and worn out copper products.  It is much harder to collect and recycle.  End of life vehicles, constructions and demolition, waste from electrical and electronic equipment are all included in old scrap.  

 

Social Concerns

     There are a number of social implications related to the mining of copper.  One of them deals with land rights.  For example, the Papago Indian Reservation includes 2/3 of the United State's copper. In the 1920's Congress passed a law declaring that it no longer belonged to the Indians. (13) 

     Issues with mining workers are also more frequent.  Mined copper production is vulnerable to disruptions in supply because of strikes, natural disasters, and concerns over supplies of natural gas and water.  At times the mines do not get enough water for employees.  Escondida mine was interrupted for most of July by labor disputes causing a loss of 45,000 tons of copper.  In 2006, around 500,000 tons of copper production is estimated to have been lost due to labor disputes. (14)

     As of September 6th, a large shipment of Zambian copper was being held in transit because of a three-week strike by employees of the Tanzania-Zambia Railways.  1,400 workers had striked forcing management to drive trains carrying copper to the port of Dar-Es-Sallam in Tanzania.  Zambia possesses 15% of the world's copper reserves.  (15)

Figure 5.1 South African miners trapped when a water pipe broke and caused a collapse.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/03/ap/world/main3327749.shtml

Figure 5.2 A lake contaminated by copper.
http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/00461/globalprint.htm

Related Resources
http://www.macaulay.ac.uk/tipss/copper.htm
http://journals.iranscience.net:800/Default/www.newscientist.com/hottopics/pollution/pollution.jsp@id=ns99994391