Iron is the starting point for steel production which has functioned as the backbone for the advancement of modern technology and is vital to the growth of the future. It acts as the predominant reason for the industrial revolution. The iron foundation, better known industrially as cast iron, was awarded the second honor as it is one of the cheapest materials for engineering, when brought to melting temperatures it acquires the ability to be cast into complex shapes. Cast Iron has been divided into 5 different classes when the composition is modified or tampered with. Each of these classes has different properties but in comparison to steel which also has its own grades ranging from low to high grade carbon steel which are just alloys of purified iron with carbon and hints of other metallic elements such as manganese and nickel , so the production of steel products differs only slightly from the commercial production of iron. Steel that forms easily, is economical yet strong and durable, allowing it to be extremely versatile creating products ranging from staples to reinforcing elements in the construction of buildings and skyscrapers. Sources Iron and steel production is complex, has a powerful effect on the environment and ecosystem due to the enormous volume and extensive use of starting products, raw materials and energy for its operations. The pollutants and wastes produced in this process can be classified into three main categories: air pollutants, wastewater contaminants and solid wastes. The following diagram indicates the various channels that raw materials must pass through in the steel production process and the pollutants that result from its production. It's ev...... middle of paper ....../I&S_EIA_Final_1202. pdf [Accessed 20 March 2014].ILO. 2014. Environmental and public health issues. [online] Available at: http://www.ilo.org/oshenc/part-xi/iron-and-steel/item/593-environmental-and-public-health-issues [Accessed: 24 March 2014] .NHS . 2013. Carbon monoxide poisoning: NHS choices. [online] Available at: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/carbon-monoxide-poisoning/Pages/Introduction.aspx [Accessed: 27 March 2014].Remus, R., Roudier, S., Aguado- Monsonet, M.A. and Delgado Sancho, L. 2013. Reference document on best available techniques (BAT) for iron and steel production. Luxembourg: Publications Office. Tatasteelconstruction. 2014. Basic Oxygen Steel Production. [online] Available at: http://www.tatasteelconstruction.com/en/reference/teaching_resources/building_in_steel/making_steel/from_iron_to_steel/basic_oxygen_steel_making_vid [Accessed: March 20 2014].