An Evaluation of Human Health Risk from Biomass Power Plant in Thailand

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Publication Details

Author list: Thamatheradamrong, N.;Bonnet, S.

Publication year: 2013

Journal: Journal of Sustainable Energy and Environment (1906-4918)

Volume number: 4

Issue number: 4

Start page: 137

End page: 141

ISSN: 1906-4918

Abstract

In Thailand, several biomass power plants are facing considerable opposition from local communities due to their concern over the perceived adverse health effects the pollutants they emit may generate. To address this issue, this study focuses on a small rice husk power plant (less than 10 MW) located in Surin province. The ISCST3 dispersion modeling tool was used to predict the concentration of stack emissions of SO2 and PM10 at varying distance from the source of emission. To assess potential health impacts on local communities, the risk assessment methodology was followed. The results showed that for the 3 communities targeted in these investigations, exposures to both SO2 and PM10 are safe with exposure concentration for the existing situation in the range, 0.083-0.171 μg

Keywords

Human health risk, PM10, SO2, Biomass power plant, Thailand