Health risk assessment of emissions from a coal-fired power plant using AERMOD modelling

• AERMOD was used to predict ambient concentration of pollutants from a coal-fired power plant.
• Annual ambient concentration of Cr exceeds ambient air guideline.
• A potential for adverse health effects exist during short term dispersion of SO2.
• Both short-term and long-term dispersion of Hg are unlikely to cause health risk.
• The probability to develop cancer due to short-term dispersion of As and Cr is higher than threshold of 1 × 10−4–1 × 10−6.

Current electricity generation mix in Malaysia consists of 58% gas, 33% coal and 9% hydro. It is anticipated that by year 2019, the generation mix will be at 64% coal, 32% gas and 4% hydro. Due to the increase in coal consumption for power generation, there is a critical need to evaluate the health risks for the population living in the vicinity of a coal-fired power plant in Malaysia. To date, such study related to the plant in Malaysia has never been published. In this study, health risk assessment (HRA) for air emission from a coal-fired power plant in Malaysia was carried out. Two pollutants from the Proposed New Environmental Quality (Clean Air) Regulation 201X (Draft) (i.e. SO2 and Hg) were assessed for non-carcinogenic health risk, and two trace elements (i.e. As and Cr) were assessed for carcinogenic health risk. Both short-term and long-term health effects were evaluated. Air dispersion modelling (AERMOD) was used to predict the ground level concentration (GLC) within 10 km radius of the emission source. Based on the HRA, different health risks were identified for short-term and long-term dispersion of the studied pollutants. The findings indicate that a detailed assessment on the short-term and long-term health effects of the emissions from coal-fired power plant in Malaysia with meteorological factor as one of the significant factors influencing the emissions level is needed.