Emissions of air toxics from a coal-fired power plant

This paper focuses on a study performed to assess the cancer risks associated with the inhalation of certain carcinogens emitted from the Mt. Tom power plant. This study was performed using an air toxics risk analysis framework. The framework includes two complementary models: the air emissions risk assessment model (AERAM) and the air toxic risk management model (AirTox). AERAM estimates potential human cancer risk due to inhalation of hazardous air pollutants emitted from coal-or oil-fired power plants. AERAM's detailed modeling of the emission and dispersion of air toxics provides estimates for data required in AirTox. AirTox calculates the total risk from multiple sources and chemicals in a study area, the trade-offs between control costs and public health risks, and the impact of alternative regulatory requirements and potential abatement decisions. This analysis represents the first applications of the complete air toxics risk analysis approach using AERAM and AirTox.