Health impact assessment of PM2.5 from a planned coal-fired power plant in Taiwan

Chia-Pin Chio; Wei-Cheng Lo; Ben-Jei Tsuang; Chieh-Chun Hu; Kai-Chen Ku; Yung-Jen Chen; Hsien-Ho Lin; Chang-Chuan Chan

doi:10.1016/j.jfma.2019.08.016

Health impact assessment of PM_2.5 from a planned coal-fired power plant in Taiwan

J Formos Med Assoc. 2019 Nov;118(11):1494-1503. doi: 10.1016/j.jfma.2019.08.016. Epub 2019 Sep 5.

Authors

Chia-Pin Chio¹, Wei-Cheng Lo², Ben-Jei Tsuang³, Chieh-Chun Hu⁴, Kai-Chen Ku³, Yung-Jen Chen⁵, Hsien-Ho Lin⁶, Chang-Chuan Chan⁷

Affiliations

¹ Innovation and Policy Center for Population Health and Sustainable Environment, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, No. 17, Xuzhou Rd, Taipei, 10055, Taiwan; Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Science, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, No. 17, Xuzhou Rd, Taipei, 10055, Taiwan.
² Graduate Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, No. 17, Xuzhou Rd, Taipei, 10055, Taiwan; Institute of Statistical Science, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Academia Rd., Sec. 2, Nankang, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.
³ Department of Environmental Engineering, Innovation and Development Center of Sustainable Agriculture (IDCSA), National Chung-Hsing University, Taiwan. No. 145, Xingda Rd., Taichung, 40227, Taiwan.
⁴ Graduate Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, No. 17, Xuzhou Rd, Taipei, 10055, Taiwan.
⁵ Greenpeace East Asia, No.109, Sec. 1, Chongqing S. Rd., Taipei, 10045, Taiwan.
⁶ Innovation and Policy Center for Population Health and Sustainable Environment, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, No. 17, Xuzhou Rd, Taipei, 10055, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, No. 17, Xuzhou Rd, Taipei, 10055, Taiwan. Electronic address: hsienho@ntu.edu.tw.
⁷ Innovation and Policy Center for Population Health and Sustainable Environment, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, No. 17, Xuzhou Rd, Taipei, 10055, Taiwan; Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Science, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, No. 17, Xuzhou Rd, Taipei, 10055, Taiwan. Electronic address: ccchan@ntu.edu.tw.

PMID: 31495542
DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2019.08.016

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the impact of a planned coal-fired power plant (CFPPT) in Shenao on air quality and health at subnational levels in Taiwan.

Methods: We applied the Gaussian trajectory transfer-coefficient (GTx) model to estimate annual average PM_2.5 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm) increments in 19 Taiwanese cities and counties caused by CFPPT operation. A population health risk assessment was performed by incorporating evidence of the health effects of PM_2.5 provided by prospective studies and estimating long-term PM_2.5 exposure. Additionally, we considered ischemic heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and chronic obstruct pulmonary disease as the primary outcomes. The population-attributable fraction was used to estimate the county-level mortality burden attributable to CFPPT-generated PM_2.5 in 2025.

Results: The estimated annual PM_2.5 increments ranged from 0.004 μg/m³ (Taitung County) to 0.28 μg/m³ (Hsinchu County) due to the Shenao CFPPT. The total and premature deaths attributable to PM_2.5 from Shenao CFPPT operation in Taiwan during 2025-2040 would be 576 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 537-619) and 145 (95% CI: 136-155), respectively. Notably, we estimated 198 (95% CI: 169-234) deaths and 58 (95% CI: 51-66) premature deaths, respectively, in New Taipei City, which accounted for over a quarter of the total deaths. Overall, the mortality rate attributable to the Shenao CFPPT in Taiwan was 6 per 10,000.

Conclusion: A scientific approach should be adopted for assessing the impacts of CFPPT operation on population health, which can serve as a valuable policymaking reference for the government.

Keywords: Coal-fired power plant (CFPPT); Comparative risk assessment (CRA); Gaussian trajectory transfer-coefficient modeling system (GTx); Global burden of disease (GBD); PM(2.5).

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants / adverse effects*
Air Pollution / adverse effects*
Coal*
Environmental Exposure / adverse effects*
Health Impact Assessment
Humans
Mortality, Premature
Particulate Matter / adverse effects*
Power Plants*
Risk Assessment
Taiwan / epidemiology

Substances

Air Pollutants
Coal
Particulate Matter