Box 4.4. Gas exploration and processing – public health risks Astrakhan Region has large discovered reserves of natural gas with high content of hydrogen sulphide (H2S), so the Astrakhan GPC produces sulphurous gas emissions. Gas pipeline accidents during initial stages of operation released untreated gas into the atmosphere, killing several workers. Releases of untreated gas sometimes still occur due to well blow outs. Gas and condensate processing at the GPC also produces pollutants. Concentrations of H2S in air have fallen over time thanks to improvement of industrial processes, reduction of accidental emissions, commissioning of a Sulphren treatment unit and environmental measures. Children living near the GPC have development abnormalities, psycho-emotional problems, functional disorders of the cardiovascular system, visual system, CNS, ear, nose & throat, and are
more prone to illness than children in a control area35. Local people used to complain of bad smells from sulfurous compounds in the atmosphere. Pollution levels around the GPC have been considerably reduced more recently. Staff of the Orenburg Medical Academy have found acute toxicity from sulphurous compounds at the Orenburg gas condensate field (the largest in Russia) due to accidents at the field’s processing plant or along pipelines. Schoolchildren who live in communities close to the extraction, primary processing, transportation and gas production area, and also near to the Orenburg Gas Processing Plant, suffer from external respiratory disorders, high arterial blood pressure, difficulties with concentration, and low scores on psychophysiological and physical development indexes compared with other children living in Orenburg Region36,37.
We will take monitoring data from Omsk, where several oil refineries are located, as an example of benzol pollution. Figure 4.1 shows benzol concentrations in ambient air of the city’s northern district for the past 15 years. During that period the concentration has seriously exceeded WHO recommendations and this situation has not yet been fully rectified. Oil refinery operations pollute the atmosphere, and they also affect ground water, soils, and crops. This is illustrated by data from Novokuibyshevsk (Box 4.3).
production and processing and its impact on public health have been carried out in Astrakhan and Orenburg Regions (Box 4.4). Children are most at risk. Installation of modern treatment technologies enables large reduction of emissions, as demonstrated by the Astrakhan Gas Processing Complex (GPC). There have been several protests by locals against construction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities due to concerns about possible accidents at the plants or spillages from LNG tankers at sea.
4.2.2. Impact of gas processing facilities on air quality and public health
4.3 Public health risks related to power and heat generation
The most comprehensive studies of environmental pollution by natural gas
Electricity, gas, steam, heat, and hot water are all essential for household infrastructure in Russia. They are produced
35 A.I.Plotnikova, Clinical and immunological specifics of child health in the area affected by the Astrakhan GPC, abstract of a thesis for a Doctor of Medicine degree, Orenburg, 1994 36 V.M.Boev, S.V.Perepelkin, G.N.Zheludeva, N.P.Setko, L.A.Barkhatova, Hygiene aspects of air pollution by sulphur compounds // Hygiene and Sanitation, 1998, No.6, pp.17-19 37 I.L.Karpenko, V.V.Utenina, N.D.Osadchaya, S.V.Perepelkin, V.V.Shkunov, Hygiene assessment of physical and psychophysiological development of children living in the area affected by emissions from the Orenburg Gas Extraction Complex// Hygiene and Sanitation, 1998, No.6, pp40-43
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National Human Development Report in the Russian Federation 2009