Abstract
Emissions from ocean-going vessels present a significant health risk to populations surrounding ports and damage the environment. Emissions from ships using heavy fuel oil include substantial amounts of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. In order to assess the risk of these emissions, a complete methodology has been developed, based on the Australian Environmental Health Risk Assessment Framework. The method includes a detailed inventory of in-port and at-sea emissions using an activity-based approach applying downwash and near-field areas from first principles equations as well as the air-shed regions from CALPUFF dispersion modeling results for Port of Brisbane in 2013. The final risk values are validated against national and European guidelines. Various health impact assessments, as well as carcinogenic and ecological effects, are discussed in depth. This study offers a significant contribution to developing a baseline measurement of the current state of risk from emissions of the ocean-going vessels visiting the port, and suggests that, given the expected development of many Australian ports in the near future, the need for continual monitoring of shipping emissions is an essential and necessary area of research.
Highlights
It is widely agreed that one of the most significant sources of air pollution is the emissions from shipping exhaust (Bailey and Solomon 2004; Colvile et al 2001; Cooper 2003; Corbett and Koehler 2003; Eyring et al 2005)
Brisbane Port complies with international standards, and as a result, it relies on the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) through Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, the Maritime Pollution Convention (MARPOL) for the regulation of the ships’ emissions on the Port’s berth
This study presents a risk-based methodology for assessing ship emissions within the Port of Brisbane, based on the Australian Environmental Health Risk Assessment Framework
Summary
It is widely agreed that one of the most significant sources of air pollution is the emissions from shipping exhaust (Bailey and Solomon 2004; Colvile et al 2001; Cooper 2003; Corbett and Koehler 2003; Eyring et al 2005). The perspective includes the Gaussian plumes and outcomes from CALPUFF dispersion modeling regarding the results from the health impact evaluation, short-term and long-term guideline validation assessment, ecological effects, and estimation of carcinogenic risks from the diesel particulate. A Tier II assessment is applied in this study, assuming that concentrations and ship stacks are port-wide and their final calculations are validated with available guidelines. For a case study of the Port of Brisbane, an impact assessment on local air quality due to at-berth, maneuvring, and cruise ship emissions is presented. Potential impacts to the entire airshed, with pollutant concentrations assessed via CALPUFF dispersion modeling, using all averaging times as required. Receptors in this case were the following. Concentration-response functions (CRF)s derived from a study of the literature were used to calculate relevant health incidence rates. ○ Assessment of carcinogenic risks from diesel particulate as well as in-depth toxicology reviews and ecological effects of concentrations were completed
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