Health risk assessment caused by productive dust in coal-fired power plants

Abstract

In order to evaluate occupational health risks caused by productive dust in coal-fired power plants, dust exposure of first-line operators in such plants was explored, and their health risks from exposure to different types of dust were assessed quantitatively by using Monte Carlo simulation method, probability risk assessment and health damage analysis method. The results show that among all occupations, ash removal and slag removal of boiler unit are exposed to the greatest health risk while boiler inspection and desulfurization inspection to minimal risk, and belt inspection and ash removal operators are faced with maximum damage to health. It is also found that body weight (BW) and average time (AT) have negative sensitivity, and parameters which have great impacts on average employee health rank as AT, exposure duration (ED), dust concentration, inhalation rate (IR) and exposure time (ET) in turn.