The role of the cement industry in the contamination of air, water, soil and plant with vanadium in Cairo.

Levels of vanadium in air, water, soil and plants resulting from the operation of a cement factory in south Cairo were extensively studied. Results obtained were compared with the level of vanadium in a relatively non-polluted residential area. It was concluded that the studied cement factory is the main source of the element to the adjacent environment. This is essentially due to the fact that this cement factory is using fossil fuels and raw materials that both contain high levels of vanadium without adequate control of the release of pollutants. Continuous release of air-borne dust from the cement industry will increase the level of vanadium in the surrounding environment in the long run.