Why is there a concern about copper smelting plants?They may release lethal quantities of carbon mon

Q: What is UPSC Prelims?

UPSC Prelims is a competitive examination conducted in India. This question is from the 2021 UPSC Prelims Environment & Ecology paper.

Q: How can I prepare for UPSC Prelims Environment & Ecology?

To prepare for UPSC Prelims Environment & Ecology, practice previous year questions (PYQs), understand concepts thoroughly, and solve mock tests regularly. This 2021 question covers Air Pollution – Sources, Effects & Control Measures topic.

Q: What is the difficulty level of this question?

This UPSC Prelims 2021 Environment & Ecology question has a hard difficulty level and is marked as an important question.

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You can find more UPSC Prelims previous year questions on AspirantMitraa. Browse by subject, topic, year, and difficulty level to practice effectively.

Question

Why is there a concern about copper smelting plants?They may release lethal quantities of carbon monoxide into environment.The copper slag can cause the leaching of some heavy metals into environment.They may release sulphur dioxide as a pollutant.Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: B — 2 and 3 onlyStep-by-step Solution:Statement 2 — Copper slag can leach heavy metals: Correct. Copper slag contains heavy metals like lead, cadmium, arsenic, cobalt, zinc, barium. Under natural weathering, these can leach into soil, surface water, and groundwater, causing pollution. ✓Statement 3 — May release sulphur dioxide as pollutant: Correct. Copper smelting involves roasting sulphide ores, which releases large quantities of sulphur dioxide (SO₂). SO₂ contributes to acid rain and respiratory problems. ✓Statement 1 — Release lethal quantities of carbon monoxide: Incorrect. While smelting can produce some CO from fuel combustion, it is not a primary pollutant of concern; the main gaseous pollutants are SO₂ and particulate matter containing heavy metals. Carbon monoxide poisoning is not typically associated with copper smelters. ✗Why other options are incorrect:Option A (1 and 2 only): Incorrect because statement 1 is false.Option C (1 and 3 only): Incorrect because statement 1 is false.Option D (1,2,3): Incorrect because statement 1 is false.Key Concept: Copper smelting is a highly polluting industry. Environmental concerns include: air pollution (SO₂, NOx, particulate matter with Pb, Cd, As), water pollution (acid mine drainage, heavy metal leaching from slag), and land degradation (slag heaps). India has seen protests against copper smelters like Sterlite Copper in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, which was closed by the government due to pollution complaints.

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