Huang Zhuoshi, Cui Jicui, Boré Abdoulaye, Ma Wenchao, Zhang Ziyi, Qiao Zhi, Lou Ziyang, Fellner Johann
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
Offshore Environmental Technology & Services Limited, Beijing 100027, China.
Eco Environ Health. 2024 Feb 17;3(3):338-346. doi: 10.1016/j.eehl.2024.01.009. eCollection 2024 Sep.
This study examined the potential health risks posed by the operation of 96 waste-to-energy (WtE) plants in 30 cities in the Bohai Rim of China. Utilizing a sophisticated simulation approach, the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model coupled with the California Puff (CALPUFF) model, we obtained the spatial distribution of pollutants emitted by WtE plants in the atmosphere. Hazard indices (HI) and cancer risks (CR) were calculated for each plant using the United States Environmental Protection Agency's recommended methodologies. The results indicated that both HIs and CRs were generally low, with values below the accepted threshold of 1.0 and 1.0 × 10, respectively. Specifically, the average HI and CR values for the entire study area were 2.95 × 10 and 3.43 × 10, respectively. However, some variability in these values was observed depending on the location and type of WtE plant. A thorough analysis of various parameters, such as waste composition, moisture content, and operating conditions, was conducted to identify the factors that influence the health risks associated with incineration. The findings suggest that proper waste sorting and categorization, increased cost of construction, and elevated height of chimneys are effective strategies for reducing the health risks associated with incineration. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the potential health risks associated with WtE plants in the Bohai Rim region of China. The findings can serve as useful guidelines for law enforcement wings and industry professionals seeking to minimize the risks associated with municipal solid waste (MSW) management and promote sustainable development.
本研究调查了中国环渤海地区30个城市中96座垃圾焚烧发电厂运行所带来的潜在健康风险。利用一种复杂的模拟方法，即天气研究与预报（WRF）模型与加州烟团（CALPUFF）模型相结合，我们得出了垃圾焚烧发电厂向大气排放污染物的空间分布情况。使用美国环境保护局推荐的方法，计算了每个发电厂的危害指数（HI）和癌症风险（CR）。结果表明，HI和CR总体上较低，其值分别低于公认的阈值1.0和1.0×10。具体而言，整个研究区域的平均HI和CR值分别为2.95×10和3.43×10。然而，根据垃圾焚烧发电厂的位置和类型，这些值存在一定的差异。对各种参数进行了全面分析，如废物成分、含水量和运行条件，以确定影响焚烧相关健康风险的因素。研究结果表明，适当的垃圾分类和分类、增加建设成本以及提高烟囱高度是降低焚烧相关健康风险的有效策略。总体而言，本研究为中国环渤海地区垃圾焚烧发电厂相关的潜在健康风险提供了有价值的见解。这些研究结果可为执法部门和行业专业人士提供有用的指导方针，以尽量减少与城市固体废物管理相关的风险，并促进可持续发展。
