ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN HEALTH IMPACT OF COAL BURNING POWER STATIONS

Environmental and health impact of coal burning power plants due to particulate emission is considered. As a result of coal burning large number of toxic elements are released into the atmosphere. The quantity released depends on the particulate control system, furnance design, mineral content of the coal and existing emission control standards.

The pathways of toxic elements from coal burning power plants to man as well as dose-response effects could be considered by the applications of PIXE and μ-PIXE as analytical techniques. It is demonstrated that, in addition to concentration levels, information on concentration profiles (surface enrichment) of elements on fly ash particles, having diameter of few micrometers or less is essential.