Human health implications of geothermal energy

Conference · Tue Aug 21 00:00:00 EDT 1979

OSTI ID:5946550

Anspaugh, L R; Hahn, J L

Environmental problems consist of the release of noncondensable gases and vapors, disposal of saline fluids, possible land subsidence and enhanced seismicity, noise, accidents such as well blowouts, and socioeconomic impacts. The most important issue related to human health is believed to be the emission of noncondensable gases, including hydrogen sulfide, mercury, and radon. Based upon data at The Geysers, California, Power Plant, emissions of mercury and radon are not large enough to result in concerns for human health. Hydrogen sulfide emissions, however, have resulted in complaints of odor annoyance and health impairment. These complaints have been caused by exposure to levels of up to approximately 0.1 ppmv in ambient air. This is above the California standard of 0.03 ppmv. Achievement of this standard may not eliminate annoyance complaints, as the odor detection threshold is lognormally distributed and about 20% of the population can detect hydrogen sulfide at levels of 0.002 ppmv. Abatement systems for hydrogen sulfide have been utilized at The Geysers since 1975. This has resulted in an increase of occupational illness caused by exposure to the abatement chemicals and wastes. More effective, and hopefully safer, abatement systems are now being tested. Occupational hazards are evaluated; the more significant ones are exposure to toxic chemicals and hazardous materials and noise. Available occupational illness data are summarized; there clearly indicate that the most significant cause of illness has been exposure to the chemicals and wastes associated with hydrogen sulfide abatement.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5946550
• Report Number(s): UCRL-83382; CONF-790447-5
• Resource Relation: Conference: Health implications of the new energy technologies, Park City, UT, USA, 4 Apr 1979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS
HEALTH HAZARDS
GEYSERS GEOTHERMAL FIELD
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
EMISSION
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
MERCURY
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
ODOR
PERSONNEL
CHALCOGENIDES
DISEASES
ELEMENTS
GEOTHERMAL FIELDS
HAZARDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
METALS
ORGANOLEPTIC PROPERTIES
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POWER PLANTS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
Geothermal Legacy
150600* - Geothermal Energy- Environmental Aspects