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Chen S, Zhang Q, Andrews-Speed P, Mclellan B. Quantitative assessment of the environmental risks of geothermal energy: A review. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2020; 276:111287. [PMID: 32877889 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Over recent decades, the use of geothermal energy for heating supply and power generation has increased significantly across the world, owing to its low carbon emissions. However, a series of emerging environmental risks from geothermal energy development and operation have been drawing increasing attention from governments and the publics. In this context, the present study provides an overview of methods for quantitatively assessing the environmental risks of geothermal energy. These include seismic hazards, human health, ecological damage and economic loss. The constraints on constructing assessment frameworks are also discussed. Furthermore, a preliminary concept for an integrated framework is proposed to assess environmental risks of geothermal energy comprehensively from multiple perspectives. To enhance the accuracy and reliability of the proposed framework, a data-sharing platform needs to be built to develop multi-disciplinary modeling further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Chen
- School of Economics and Management, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Changping, Beijing, 102249, China; Academy of Chinese Energy Strategy, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Changping, Beijing, 102249, China; Energy Studies Institute, National University of Singapore, 119620, Singapore
| | - Qi Zhang
- School of Economics and Management, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Changping, Beijing, 102249, China; Academy of Chinese Energy Strategy, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Changping, Beijing, 102249, China.
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Bustaffa E, Cori L, Manzella A, Nuvolone D, Minichilli F, Bianchi F, Gorini F. The health of communities living in proximity of geothermal plants generating heat and electricity: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 706:135998. [PMID: 31862594 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Since the 1990s, in areas with natural geothermal manifestations studies on the association between exposure to pollutants and health effect have become increasingly relevant. These emissions consist of water vapor mixed with carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), methane and, to a lesser extent, rare gases and trace elements in volatile forms. Considering the indications of the World Health Organization and the growth in the use of geothermal energy for energy production, this review aims to report studies exploring the health status of the populations living in areas where geothermal energy is used to produce heat and electricity. Studies on the health effects of the general population exposed to emissions from both natural geothermal events and plants using geothermal energy at domestic or commercial level have been considered between 1999 and 2019. Studies were classified into those based on health indicators and those based on proxy-individual level exposure metrics. Both statistically significant results (p<0.05) and interesting signals were commented. The 19 studies selected (New Zealand, Iceland and Italy) provide heterogeneous results, with an increased risk for several tumor sites. Exposure to H2S low concentrations is positively associated with an increment of respiratory symptoms, anti-asthma drugs use, mortality for respiratory diseases and lung cancer. Exposure to H2S high levels is inversely related to cancer mortality but associated with an increase in hospitalization for respiratory diseases, central nervous system disorders and cardiovascular diseases. The results indicate that the health of populations residing in areas rich in geothermal emissions presents some critical elements to be explored. The two major limitations of the studies are the ecological design and the inadequate exposure assessment. The authors suggested the prosecution and the systematization of health surveillance and human biomonitoring activities associated with permanent control of atmospheric emissions from both industrial and natural plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Bustaffa
- Unit of Environmental Epidemiology and Diseases Registries, Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, IFC-CNR, via Moruzzi 1, Pisa 56124, Italy.
| | - Liliana Cori
- Unit of Environmental Epidemiology and Diseases Registries, Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, IFC-CNR, via Moruzzi 1, Pisa 56124, Italy
| | - Adele Manzella
- Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, National Research Council, IGG-CNR, via Moruzzi 1, Pisa 56124, Italy
| | - Daniela Nuvolone
- Epidemiology Unit, Regional Health Agency of Tuscany, Via Pietro Dazzi 1, Florence 50100, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Minichilli
- Unit of Environmental Epidemiology and Diseases Registries, Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, IFC-CNR, via Moruzzi 1, Pisa 56124, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Bianchi
- Unit of Environmental Epidemiology and Diseases Registries, Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, IFC-CNR, via Moruzzi 1, Pisa 56124, Italy
| | - Francesca Gorini
- Unit of Environmental Epidemiology and Diseases Registries, Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, IFC-CNR, via Moruzzi 1, Pisa 56124, Italy
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