Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to SO۲ and NO۲ Resulting from Power Plant Fuel Change Using Monte Carlo Simulation

Introduction: Exposure to air pollutants is a serious concern that leads to numerous health issues. Power plants are one of the main sources of pollutant emissions, including sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. This study aimed to estimate the non-carcinogenic risk associated with exposure to SO۲ and NO۲ at a power plant in northwestern Iran. Materials and Methods: SO۲ and NO۲ concentrations in the power plant exhaust gas and the power plant area were collected from official data recorded during regular monitoring. The health risk of exposure to the detected concentrations of SO۲ and NO۲ was assessed by calculating the hazard quotient based on the estimated chronic daily intake. Results:  The analysis showed that the concentrations of SO۲ and NO۲ in the studied area were ۱۲.۶۰ and ۲۰.۱۸ μg/m۳, respectively. However, the concentrations of the total studied pollutants in winter were ۴۵.۱۰% higher than those in summer. In addition, the mean hazard quotient of exposure to SO۲ and NO۲ was calculated as ۰.۰۳۶۹ and ۰.۰۹۰۵, respectively. But, the use of diesel for energy production in a power plant resulted in a ۶۵.۰۷% higher non-carcinogenic risk than the use of gas as a power plant fuel. Conclusion: Although the health risk of exposure to the studied pollutants was not significant (HI = ۰.۱۲۷) in the current situation, the use of diesel significantly increased the health risk owing to increased pollutant emissions.

کلیدواژه ها:

Air Pollution ، Sulfur Dioxide ، Nitrogen Dioxide ، Non-Carcinogenic Risk.