The main anthropogenic contributions to air quality deterioration are through vehicular and industrial emissions. Santa Catarina is a Brazilian state with a developed industrial sector. The amount of industries, as well as their diversified activities stand out. Among these activities, there is the production of red clay ceramics (brick and tile kilns). There is a representative concentration of this kind of industries in southern Santa Catarina, Brazil, and the impact caused by these factories on air quality is a concern. There is a suspicion that this impact affect local population health. However, proper studies have not been done either on air quality or on these industries emissions. The aim of this work is to verify how the atmospheric emissions issue is considered by bricks and tile kilns. The survey was conducted applying two methods: questionnaire and evaluation of environmental assessment documents. In the questionnaires, it was noticed that only 13% of the kilns let their air pollution control devices on throughout the kiln operation. By the documents analysis it was verified that a significant amount of industries does not make stack sampling, as well as they do not verify if their air pollution control devices are properly working. Despite the fact that the emissions reports denote compatibility with local emission regulations, the density of factories in a small geographic space indicates that a significant impact on air quality occurs.
air pollution; red clay ceramic industry; brick and tile kilns; southern Santa Catarina; Brazil
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