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Environment

Air emissions

Rio Tinto aims to minimise emissions through improvements in process control and capture. Indicators for success include reduced emissions of oxides of sulphur (expressed as sulphur dioxide equivalent), fluoride greenhouse gas emissions, and reduced dust related complaints at operations.

Oxides of sulphur

The majority of oxides of sulphur emissions from Rio Tinto's operations come from smelters. In 2005, total SOx emissions were 79,162 tonnes. More on oxides of sulphur emissions.

Fluoride

Ninety eight per cent of Rio Tinto's fluoride emissions were from aluminium smelters in 2005. The remaining three per cent came from coal consuming operations. In 2005, fluoride emissions were 1,128 tonnes. More on fluoride emissions.

Dust

Dust is generated by Rio Tinto operations from moving or stockpiling mine waste and product, heavy equipment movements on unsealed surfaces, stack emissions and wind blown dust from stockpiles and tailings dams. Community complaints and the associated response from operations are used as indicators of dust management performance. In 2005, 20 operations received dust related complaints. More on dust emissions.

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Oxides of sulphur (SOx)

Fluoride emissions

Dust

Data reliability

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