Threats to human health and ecosystem caused by coal-fired winter heating in China since 2010
Abstract
Coal-fired winter heating (CWH) results in serious air pollution, but limited studies have investigated its threats to health and ecosystem. The environmental impact and social cost of CWH in China at the province level was quantified via a "bottom-up" life cycle assessment approach. The ecosystem damage and social cost of CWH maintained high values over the last decade, although exhibited a downward trend. Approximately 688 Mt CO2 eq of greenhouse gas emitted from CWH activity in 2019, accounting for 4.9% of China's total emission. Shandong and Liaoning Provinces dominated the nationwide environmental and economic burdens of CWH. Heavy metals atmospherically emitted from CWH exerted significant carcinogenic impacts and showed a correlation with regional cancer incidence (e.g., respiratory, reproductive, urinary, neurological, and blood-lymphatic systems), indicating the potential multi-system damage of CWH. Energy-saving buildings, geothermal utilization, efficient heavy metal end-point control technology, and improving emission factors quality are highly recommended.
- Publication:
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Journal of Cleaner Production
- Pub Date:
- November 2023
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.139163
- Bibcode:
- 2023JCPro.42639163Z
- Keywords:
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- Coal-fired winter heating;
- Life cycle assessment;
- Social cost;
- Carcinogenic impacts;
- Epidemiological cancer incidence