Evaluation of the effectiveness of technological measures to manage the risk to public health when exposed to atmospheric emissions of multi-fuel combined heat and power plants

AIM: To assess the effectiveness of technological measures to manage the risk to public health of exposure to atmospheric emissions from multi-fuel combined heat and power plants (CHP).

METHODS: The study involved modeling the dispersion of emissions from the thermal power plants, calculation of surface concentrations, assessment of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks to public health, and estimating the relative risk of mortality, referrals and hospitalizations based on WHO guidelines on atmospheric air quality. Predictive scenarios were constructed for thermal power plants, including the initial state, modernization with the help of technological and sanitary measures, and changes in the structure of the fuel balance.

RESULTS: The use of low-temperature vortex fuel combustion technology in combination with a modernized dust and gas cleaning system significantly (p <0.001) decreased the predicted carcinogenic risk index by an average of 80.67%, non-carcinogenic risk index by 78.84%, and relative mortality risks and referrals to medical organizations by more than 80%. The use of a gas turbine plant increased the production of electric energy by 72.23%, thermal energy by 4.89%, and significantly (p <0.001) reduced the level of carcinogenic risk by 44–60%, non-carcinogenic risk by 35–47%, and relative risks of mortality, visits to medical organizations and hospitalizations by 33–64%.

CONCLUSION: The use of the best available technologies to modernize multi-fuel CHP plants significantly reduces the level of risk to public health while it increases the production of electric and thermal energy and maintaining the advantage of using both solid and gaseous fuels.