Health Assessment and Biomonitoring of Workers in a Coal-Fired Power Plant in Malaysia

Coal fired thermal plants generation of electricity is an interesting choice for Malaysia that has historically depended on oil and natural gas for energy. For power generation, the country cannot depend totally on renewables to provide base load power as the domestic natural gas supplies are depleting and fuel prices are volatile. It also recognizes that hydropower capacity in Peninsular Malaysia is nearly fully developed. However, atmospheric pollutants emitted from the coal combustion at these coal-fired power plants pose great challenge to local, regional and even global ecosystems. The compositions of PM2.5 at the surrounding areas of a coal fired power plant have ability to influence the human health. Evaluation on the toxicity of these contaminants in PM2.5 and their risks to human health risk are limited. A study was conducted to assess exposure of workers to PM10 and PM2.5 with their inorganic composition and their biological monitoring. A cross sectional survey was carried using a standardized q...