Potential Environmental Problems Related to Fuel Storage in Outdoor Areas

Abstract

It has been a common practice to stockpile fuel materials such as wood chips and coal in open industrial areas. The contact of these materials with water from e.g. rainfall or water sprays to suppress dust formation and avoid spontaneous combustion, cause serious environmental problems in aquatic ecosystems due to the generation of highly contaminated runoff and leachates. Relatively little is known about the characteristics of contaminants leached from these piles in different environmental conditions, and a better understanding of these problems is needed in order to formulate proper management strategies. This current paper has the main objective of raising environmental awareness of the potential impacts the storage of fuels can pose to the environment and human health