Environmental Impacts of Copper Smelting Plants

Statement 1 is incorrect because copper smelting processes primarily emit sulfur compounds and particulate matter, not massive lethal loads of carbon monoxide. Statement 2 is correct because copper slag dumping contains toxic traces that leach heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, and lead into groundwater ecosystems. Statement 3 is correct because roasting sulfide ores produces significant volumes of sulfur dioxide gas, a key ambient air pollutant. > Heavy metal leaching from slag heaps and high sulfur dioxide emissions make copper smelters key environmental regulatory targets. Answer: (b).