LIFE98 ENV/E/000379 - System to reduce the environmental impact in the bulk cereal handling of A Coruña harbour
Overview
Background & policy context:
Traditional handling of bulk cereals in Port Areas can lead to large amounts of suspended dust particles being released into the air. As a result, substantial air pollution is created which can cause allergic respiratory illnesses amongst local people. In recent years, La Coruna Port has expanded its handling of these cereals, reflecting their increasing importance to the Galician agriculture and stock-rearing industry. This has also involved an expansion in the range of cereals handled, from 3 traditional products to 22. Some of these cereals, such as transgenic soya, bring with them an increasing risk of pollution. Although the dust emissions do not currently infringe the current National and EU Environment Legislation they present an increasing irritant for the local population. The extent of public awareness of these problems can be seen in the commitment made by the Port Authority itself and the Regional Government to co-finance a project to reduce these dust emissions. The successful development of such a system would substantially reduce the environmental impact in the Port Area. It could also be adapted to other areas, like port infrastructures, industries and railway stations where there exists a similar environmental pollution problem.
Objectives:
The main aim of the project was to reduce air pollution caused by grain dust emissions in Port Areas, consequently reducing the amount of health problems caused of an allergic character. The project contemplated a 90% reduction in these emissions by the end of the period. This would be achieved through the development of a system with two key characteristics. (A specialist engineering company Buhler SA would take responsibility for the design and implementation of the system) Firstly, the bulk cereal handling activities would be isolated from the open air, so as to prevent the escape of dust into the atmosphere. Secondly, an integrated handling and management computerised application would be developed to facilitate the monitoring and control of the dust emissions, amongst other operational activities. The system would commence once the bulk cereals had been emptied out of the ship with a power shovel. The cereals would then be sucked up by a hopper and transferred onto conveyor belts that would be hermetically sealed. These would transport the material in a closed circuit before being weighed, stored and loaded onto lorries.
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