With a population estimated in 186 million of inhabitants, mainly concentrated in the urban areas (approximately 80%), Brazil has a vast territory of 8,511,965 Km2, an Atlantic coast with 9,198 km of extension and four great water basins: Amazon Basin with 3,984,467 km2 - Tocantins-Araguaia Basin with 803,250 Km2 – San Francisco Basin - Platina Basin formed by Rio Paraná basins.

According to ABIQUIM (Brazilian Chemical Industry Association), the country occupies the seventh position in the world chemical industry production capacity and size, with an income of US$59,4 billion in 2004.  In 2003 such sector represented 3.7% of the Gross Internal Product, which reveals the importance of the sector for the country economy.  However, such sector is also responsible for a great quantity of atmospheric pollution, environmental contamination and human intoxication, which control is still very incipient.  

In relation to the steel sector, 24% of the production was recycled, equivalent to 8,000,000 ton. of scrap iron.  The national steel industry occupies the 8th place of the world companies ranking, including Gerdau Group, one of the greatest companies of the American continent.  However, practically no measures were taken to control non-intentional generation of POPs by this sector. In 2001, after being accused of polluting with PCB and mercury, Gerdau Group preferred to declare to the public that the environmentalists and workers were causing disorder, instead of acknowledging its responsibility for the contamination.  At the same time, inexplicably, Gerdau was voluntary developing tests of dioxins and PCBs emissions in Canada to contribute to the Inventory of Dioxins there.   

ACPO - Associação de Combate aos POPs ACPO - Associação de Consciência à Prevenção Ocupacional Rua: Júlio de Mesquita, 148 conjunto 203 - Vila Mathias CEP: 11075-220 - Santos - São Paulo - Brasil - Tel/Fax: (55 13) 32346679 Home Page: http://www.acpo.org.br E-mail: acpo@acpo.org.br