Title: Preliminary research of health and environmental impacts and greenhouse gas emission from coal-fired power and nuclear power chains in China

Authors: Pan Ziqiang, Chen Zhuzhou, Zhu Zhiming, Xiu Binglin, Ma Zhonghai, Hao Jianzhong, He Huimin

Addresses: China Atomic Energy Agency, P.O. Box 2102-14, Beijing 100822, People's Republic of China. China Atomic Energy Agency, P.O. Box 2102-14, Beijing 100822, People's Republic of China. China Atomic Energy Agency, P.O. Box 2102-14, Beijing 100822, People's Republic of China.China Atomic Energy Agency, P.O. Box 2102-14, Beijing 100822, People's Republic of China. China Institute for Radiation Protection, People's Republic of China. China Institute for Radiation Protection, People's Republic of China. Northern China Electricity Generating Group Co. Ltd., People's Republic of China.

Abstract: The present paper treats health, environmental impacts and greenhouse gas emission resulting from both the coal-fired power chain and nuclear power chain in China. The nuclear power chain resulted in adverse health impacts 3-4 orders of magnitude lower than those from the coal-fired power chain, also radiological emissions were 1-2 orders of magnitude lower. Estimated greenhouse gas emission factors amount to 40 fold. The coal-fired power chain is considered to be one of the major sources of environmental pollution in China and rapid expansion of nuclear power in the country promises to be one of the primary ways of mitigating environmental pollution and reducing greenhouse gas emission. At the same time, of course, it is also necessary to increase the energy conversion efficiency of coal as a fuel and to minimise pollutant discharge.

Keywords: radiological impact; health assessment; environmental assessment; coal-fired power chain; nuclear power chain.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.1999.000845

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 1999 Vol.12 No.1/2/3/4/5/6, pp.257-270

Published online: 24 Jul 2003 *

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