7. Health risk analysis for emissions to air from CO₂ Technology Centre Mongstad (2013)

Gelein de Koeijer^a,^∗, Vibeke Randgaard Talstad^a, Sissel Nepstad^a, Dag Tønnessen^b, Olav Falk-Pedersen^a, Yolandi Maree^a, Claus Nielsen^c

^a TCM DA/Statoil, NO-5494 Mongstad, Norway ^b NILU, NO-2027 Kjeller, Norway ^c University of Oslo, NO-0361 Oslo, Norway ^∗ Corresponding author

Abstract

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A health risk analysis for the emissions  to  air  from the CO₂ Technology  Centre  Mongstad  (TCM) has been executed. TCM is the world’s largest facility for testing and improving technologies  for CO₂ capture,  and  is  located  at  the  West coast of Norway. The risk analysis  was an important fundament for the application for an emission permit for the amine based post-combustion CO₂ capture unit. The highest risk was assessed to be the exposure of the population to uncertain concentrations of nitrosamines and nitramines in air and drinking water. Nitrosamines and nitramines are groups of possible degradation products formed from amines. The components within these two groups have variable degrees of carcinogenicity. Nitrosamines are formed from amines in the CO₂ capture process and in the atmosphere, while nitramines are assumed to form only in the atmosphere. The risk was analyzed by comparing the sum of concentrations of nitrosamines and nitramines in air and fresh water with recently available guidelines. The concentrations were obtained by modelling atmospheric chemistry, dispersion, deposition by precipitation and degradation in fresh water with novel methods that were developed during the application process. Moreover, the nitrosamine and nitramine concentrations were measured in air and fresh water lakes prior to start-up as a baseline. TCM’s conclusion was that the risk was acceptable. The Norwegian Climate and Pollution Agency granted TCM a permit in November 2011.

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