Airborne trace metal emissions from electric utility generating facilities in the Philadelphia region : public health risk and environmental policy / William Casty Miller III.

Format:

Book

Manuscript

Microformat

Thesis/Dissertation

Author/Creator:

Miller, William Casty.

Contributor:

Strong, Ann L. (Ann Louise), advisor.

University of Pennsylvania.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Penn dissertations--Energy management and policy.

Energy management and policy--Penn dissertations.

Local Subjects:

Penn dissertations--Energy management and policy.

Energy management and policy--Penn dissertations.

Physical Description:

xi, 276 pages : illustrations ; 29 cm

Production:

1998.

Summary:

This study analyzes the intertemporal variation in the emission of trace metals carcinogens from fossil fuel burning electric power generating facilities in a densely populated urban area, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The public health risk of exposure to these carcinogens over a multi-decade study period is estimated and analyzed to determine the effect of the variation in emissions.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently attempting to determine whether additional control programs are appropriate for power plants in order to address these risks. In addition, such risk determinations are also relevant in the development of EPA's Clean Air Power Initiative and the development of climate change policy.

The overall conclusion drawn from this study is that the contemporary emissions of trace metal carcinogens from power plants in the United States poses a relatively small risk to public health, and this risk has decreased dramatically in recent decades. Since the risk reduction accompanied a pollution control effort that occurred throughout the country for other pollutants (notably particulate matter and $\rm SO\sb2),$ and further controls are likely to be required for these same units for other environmental concerns (e.g., eutrophication, fine particles, regional haze, etc.), it would appear that future reductions in trace metal carcinogens can best be obtained as a concomitant benefit of these other regulatory efforts.

Notes:

Adviser: Ann Louise Strong.

Thesis (Ph.D. in Energy Management and Policy) -- University of Pennsylvania, 1998.

Includes bibliographical references.

Local Notes:

University Microfilms order no.: 98-29952.

OCLC:

187470657