Why is there a concern about copper smelting plants?
- 1.They may release lethal quantities of carbon monoxide into environment.
- 2.The copper slag can cause the leaching of some heavy metals into environment.
- 3.They may release sulphur dioxide as a pollutant.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
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Answer: B. Statement 1 is wrong: copper smelting is not known for releasing lethal carbon monoxide. Statement 2 is correct: copper slag can leach heavy metals like lead and arsenic into soil and water. Statement 3 is correct: smelting sulphide ores releases sulphur dioxide. So 2 and 3.
Watch for: Carbon monoxide is a familiar pollutant, but copper ores are sulphides, so SO2 is the main gas.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Wrong because carbon monoxide is not the key pollutant of copper smelting.
- C. Wrong because carbon monoxide is not the key concern.
- D. Wrong because statement 1 is false.
Source to check: Central Pollution Control Board, guidelines on primary copper smelting; Tamil Nadu Sterlite plant case reports (2018)
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.