Measuring Hydrogen Sulphide (H₂S) Gas in The Air of The Refinery And around the Refinery in Erbil – Iraq
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60087/jklst.vol5.n3.002Keywords:
Hydrogen Sulphide (H₂S), Air Pollution, Air Quality, Refinery, Petroleum Refinery, Gas Concentration, Environmental Monitoring, Occupational Health and Safety Industrial Air Pollution, Erbil, , IraqAbstract
The aim of this study is to publish the measurement results of hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) gases both inside and around petroleum refinery complex, and study the environmental and social impacts of the results, in the town of Erbil (Kurdistan Region of Iraq). These measurements were made at twelve monitoring stations at an equal distance (0–5 km) from the refinery and analyzed for a period of twelve months, with analysis also examining the output of AERMOD dispersion modelling and a hazard quotient framework. The results demonstrated that the on-site mean concentrations are above international occupational exposure and community exposure guidelines and that concentrations are a function of the distance from the source source, varying exponentially but concentrations remain significantly higher than the odour detect levels in the residences of the community ring. Winter and night time are periods of time when atmospheric stability will make for much greater exposure. The study highlights that the emissions generated in the refinery activities represent an externality which is not internalized and provides policy suggestions with regard to the need for buffer-zone regulation, monitoring infrastructure over the years and the prioritization of investment for the abatement.
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