Health and safety implications of alternative energy technologies. I. Geothermal and biomass
An evaluation of potential occupational and public health aspects of geopressure, hydrothermal, hot dry rock, silviculture, crop and animal residues, fermentable plant products, municipal waste, and plantation energy technologies has been performed. Occupational exposure to hydrogen sulfide gas occurs near all geothermal sites and wherever organic matter decomposes anaerobically. Respiratory damage has occurred to laborers in geothermal fields, while farm workers have been fatally overcome when employed near agitating liquid manure systems. However, the most frequent and severe of reported injuries to geothermal workers is dermal exposure to caustic sludges produced by H/sub 2/S abatement systems. Principal health and safety considerations of biomass pathways are directly related to the diffuse nature of solar energy fixation by photosynthesis and subsequent transfer to animal food chains. Since the potential fuel is in an unconcentrated form, cultivation, harvest, and transport are necessarily labor-intensive. Thus, a significant potential for occupational injuries and fatalities exists. Of all biomass systems evaluated, direct burning of solid fuels presents the greatest public health risk. Data are presented to characterize the population at risk and the frequency and severity of injuries. (JMT)
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- OSTI ID:
- 6741373
- Journal Information:
- Environ. Manage.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Manage.; (United States) Vol. 5:4; ISSN EMNGD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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AGRICULTURAL WASTES
BIOCONVERSION
BIOMASS
BODY
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FERMENTATION
GEOPRESSURED SYSTEMS
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HOT-DRY-ROCK SYSTEMS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS
INJURIES
MANURES
MUNICIPAL WASTES
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
ORGANIC WASTES
ORGANS
OXIDATION
PERSONNEL
PUBLIC HEALTH
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RISK ASSESSMENT
SAFETY
SKIN
SLUDGES
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WASTES