Estimation of the health benefits of controlling air pollution from the Yatagan coal-fired power plant

Abstract

The health benefits of the flue-gas desulphurisation units of the Yatagan coal-fired power plant were estimated by using the AirPacts model. The primary pollutant emitted from the stack is sulphur dioxide; however, secondary pollutants are created downstream of the source as a result of chemical reactions involving other species that exist in the surrounding atmosphere. The impact pathway approach was used to quantitatively estimate the level of the health effects caused by sulphur species emission. Health benefits were then assessed by comparing the estimated health impacts with and without the flue-gas desulphurisation equipment. The flue-gas desulphurisation units of the power plant were found to result in, on average, 77 fewer cases of short-term mortality, 2280 fewer cases of long-term mortality, and 88 fewer cases of respiratory hospital admissions annually. In monetary terms, this benefit is equivalent to US $103 million (in 2000 prices) per annum. This benefit exceeds the investment cost (US $80 million). (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.