ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH RISK OF PARTICULATE MATTER COMPONENTS OF ATMOSPHERIC EMISSIONS OF MULTIFUEL POWER PLANTS

Abstract

Aim: To study risks to public health of particular matter components in the atmospheric emissions of multifuel power plants (MPP). Methods: The study was performed on the territory of the Kirov region in the area of atmospheric emissions of the multifuel power plants. We ranked the chemicals included in the composition of atmospheric emissions from MPP by the level of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk and modeled dispersion of emissions of MPP plants and estimation of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks. Results: Three typical scenarios of the fuel balance of MPP for 17 years of observation were identified: I - the share of solid fuel more than 50 %, II - the share of solid fuel less than 20 % and III, characterized by an increase in the share of solid fuel in the fuel balance to 30 %. During the implementation of scenario I, the carcinogenic risk (CI 95 %) was 3.8x10-4 - 4.8x10-4 for the population of the area with the highest pollution level, non-carcinogenic risk was 2.37-2.96, there was an increase in the frequency of hospital admissions and mortality due to diseases of the circulatory system and respiratory organs. In the transition to scenario II, there was a decrease in the level of carcinogenic risk to 1.4x10-4 - 1.7x10-4 and non-carcinogenic risk to 0.85-1.05, a decrease in the frequency of hospital admissions and mortality due to diseases of the circulatory system and respiratory organs. Conclusions: Changes in the fuel balance of multi-fuel CHP are associated with a significant influence on the level of health risk. Highlighting areas of increased risk for population health in the areas adjacent to MPP is recommended.