Zohar Barnett-Itzhaki, Shahar Meir, Yuval Rozolio, Amit Noy, Bella Ben-David
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Air pollution from coal-based power plants poses significant health and environmental risks. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of abatement technologies, specifically flue gas desulfurization (FGD) wet scrubbers and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems, in reducing air pollution from power plants in Israel. We analyzed air quality data from eight monitoring stations near the Hadera Power Plant, comparing pollutant concentrations before (2015) and after (2019) the installation of abatement systems. Hourly averages of NOx, NO2, and SO2 concentrations were computed and analyzed using Wilcoxon's paired test and linear regression models. Results showed significant decreases in overall pollutant concentrations following the installation of abatement systems. Total average NOx concentrations decreased from 11.68 to 6.88 ppb in summer and from 9.78 to 7.38 ppb in winter. Similar reductions were observed for NO2 and SO2. Monitoring Stations data -specific analysis revealed statistically significant decreases in 86.7% of all comparisons. Furthermore, in 21 out of 22 linear regression models, the variable indicating the installation of the abatement systems was negatively associated with the pollutants' concentrations. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of abatement technologies in reducing air pollution from power plants, supporting their implementation as a viable strategy for improving air quality and protecting public health in areas near coal-fired power plants.
期刊介绍:
Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management (IEAM) publishes the science underpinning environmental decision making and problem solving. Papers submitted to IEAM must link science and technical innovations to vexing regional or global environmental issues in one or more of the following core areas:
Science-informed regulation, policy, and decision making
Health and ecological risk and impact assessment
Restoration and management of damaged ecosystems
Sustaining ecosystems
Managing large-scale environmental change
Papers published in these broad fields of study are connected by an array of interdisciplinary engineering, management, and scientific themes, which collectively reflect the interconnectedness of the scientific, social, and environmental challenges facing our modern global society:
Methods for environmental quality assessment; forecasting across a number of ecosystem uses and challenges (systems-based, cost-benefit, ecosystem services, etc.); measuring or predicting ecosystem change and adaptation
Approaches that connect policy and management tools; harmonize national and international environmental regulation; merge human well-being with ecological management; develop and sustain the function of ecosystems; conceptualize, model and apply concepts of spatial and regional sustainability
Assessment and management frameworks that incorporate conservation, life cycle, restoration, and sustainability; considerations for climate-induced adaptation, change and consequences, and vulnerability
Environmental management applications using risk-based approaches; considerations for protecting and fostering biodiversity, as well as enhancement or protection of ecosystem services and resiliency.