Volume 20, Issue 2 (7-2024)
J Health Syst Res 2024, 20(2): 177-183 |
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Research code: A-10-423-1
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Naserirad M, Kargari N, Nikoomaram H. Health Impact Assessment of Thermal Power Plants Using the Life Cycle Assessment Approach. J Health Syst Res 2024; 20 (2) :177-183
URL: http://hsr.mui.ac.ir/article-1-1424-en.html
URL: http://hsr.mui.ac.ir/article-1-1424-en.html
1- MSc Student, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2- Assistant Professor, Department of Environment, Takestan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Takestan, Iran
3- Assistant Professor, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2- Assistant Professor, Department of Environment, Takestan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Takestan, Iran
3- Assistant Professor, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: (705 Views)
Background: Energy, especially electricity, is one of the most important infrastructures of modern life. Electricity generation is a necessary and inevitable activity. However, it is associated with environmental impacts. Among different types of power plants, thermal power plants have significant environmental impacts due to the use of fossil fuels.
Methods: Among thermal power plants, combined cycle power plants, which are the dominant method of generating electricity in Iran, have lesser environmental impact. So far, different methods have been used to study and evaluate the environmental impact of combined-cycle power plants. However, the life cycle assessment (LCA) method is an appropriate, complete, and new way to quantify the impacts. This method can quantify and assess the impacts in different categories, including health impacts (impacts on human health). This method is based on the ISO 14040 standard. According to the object (health impacts), three methods have been selected to characterize and assess the impacts, including Impact 2002, EPS, EDIP, and for this purpose, SimaPro software has been applied.
Findings: Among the characterization methods, only the EDIP method has a normalization coefficient and provides the possibility of comparing the classes of effects. Based on the EDIP method, the normalized quantity of air pollution toxicity, water pollution toxicity, and soil pollution toxicity are equal to 3-E8/3, 3-E8-27, and 6-E9-24, respectively.
Conclusion: Based on the results obtained for the combined cycle power plant studied in this search (Shahid Rajaei power plant), the most health impacts are caused by air pollutants, after that, soil pollutants, which are mainly due to the entry of treated effluent of the power plant, have the largest share in health impacts, and finally water pollutants are the next priority in creating health impacts. The identified health impacts of the Shahid Rajaei combined cycle power plant include respiratory problems, lost years of life, malnutrition and reduced work capacity, exacerbation of angina pectoris, and exacerbation of asthma.
Methods: Among thermal power plants, combined cycle power plants, which are the dominant method of generating electricity in Iran, have lesser environmental impact. So far, different methods have been used to study and evaluate the environmental impact of combined-cycle power plants. However, the life cycle assessment (LCA) method is an appropriate, complete, and new way to quantify the impacts. This method can quantify and assess the impacts in different categories, including health impacts (impacts on human health). This method is based on the ISO 14040 standard. According to the object (health impacts), three methods have been selected to characterize and assess the impacts, including Impact 2002, EPS, EDIP, and for this purpose, SimaPro software has been applied.
Findings: Among the characterization methods, only the EDIP method has a normalization coefficient and provides the possibility of comparing the classes of effects. Based on the EDIP method, the normalized quantity of air pollution toxicity, water pollution toxicity, and soil pollution toxicity are equal to 3-E8/3, 3-E8-27, and 6-E9-24, respectively.
Conclusion: Based on the results obtained for the combined cycle power plant studied in this search (Shahid Rajaei power plant), the most health impacts are caused by air pollutants, after that, soil pollutants, which are mainly due to the entry of treated effluent of the power plant, have the largest share in health impacts, and finally water pollutants are the next priority in creating health impacts. The identified health impacts of the Shahid Rajaei combined cycle power plant include respiratory problems, lost years of life, malnutrition and reduced work capacity, exacerbation of angina pectoris, and exacerbation of asthma.
Type of Study: Applicable |
Subject:
Environmental Health Engineering
Received: 2022/07/8 | Accepted: 2023/09/20 | Published: 2024/07/5
Received: 2022/07/8 | Accepted: 2023/09/20 | Published: 2024/07/5
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