Sustainability Examples

Low Tar Pitch
Further Reduces PAH Emissions

Issues: Environmental Releases, Well-being
Stakeholders: NGOs, Government, Employees, Communities
Region: North America

Over the past two decades, Alcan significantly reduced its PAH emissions in Quebec. This reduction was achieved through a variety of initiatives, including the adoption of measures to reduce emissions at source, an improvement in operational practices and work methods, as well as investing in modernization and new smelters to replace old-technology facilities.

A key initiative initially introduced in 2002 and continued in 2003 was the use of low-PAH coal-tar pitch at Alcan's older smelters in Quebec that use Söderberg technology (Arvida, Shawinigan and Beauharnois Works). This followed technological advances and tests conducted at Alcan's Arvida Research and Development Centre (ARDC). The main feature of this new process is that harmful PAHs (linked in scientific literature as a cause of cancer) are replaced by petroleum by-products, while maintaining the needed properties of the pitch.

The advantage of the new low-PAH pitch is the significant reduction of total PAH emissions from Alcan's smelters in Quebec by 49% between 2001 and 2003. Additional reduction of PAH emissions are to be expected in Quebec with the permanent closure of Söderberg potlines at Arvida Works in 2004.

Furthermore, an epidemiological study began in 2000 in most of Alcan's plants in Quebec, mainly with the 17,000 potroom workers who have been employed by the Company for more than one year. This study, the results of which should be known by 2005, will provide information on the impact of the PAH reductions on employee health.