The Environmental and Health Impacts of the Al-Khairat Gas Power Plant on Air Pollution and Noise in Al-Khairat District

Abstract

     Like other districts of Iraqi cities, Al-Karat District is affected by industrial establishments and their environmental impacts. Therefore, this research includes an environmental study on the impact of the Al-Karat Gas Power Plant on the city. The study relied on field monitoring measurements at the study site during the period (July 2024 – January 2025).

    The study covered air pollution and noise intensity (noise pollution) measurements and their effects on environmental pollution. Ten monitoring sites were selected to measure the concentrations of the main gaseous pollutants, namely carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). In addition, ten other sites were selected for measuring noise intensity (noise pollution). The results were compared with both local and international environmental standards. The study also highlighted the environmental and health impacts of the Al-Karat Gas Power Plant on workers at the site, including occupational disorders and diseases such as respiratory illnesses, skin allergies, cardiovascular diseases, and asthma.

Various environmental pollution measurement devices were employed, including a device for measuring gaseous waste pollution, the (Gas Alert) device for measuring air pollution levels emitted from the plant, and the latest sound level meters (Sound Level Meter) from global manufacturers. Moreover, advanced Geographic Information System (GIS) software (ArcMap 10.5 and Arc Catalog 10.5) was used to draw maps, along with Global Positioning System devices (GPS Maps iPhone). An (Auriol Premium Weather Station) device was used to measure wind speed and track gas dispersion, while a (Samsung) device was used to capture photographic documentation of environmental pollution indicators.

Several statistical tools were applied, including (Excel 2016), (Word 2016), and (SPSS v.24) for all statistical analyses. The research also relied on a questionnaire distributed to employees of the Al-Karat Gas Power Plant, whose total number is 1,000 workers. Fifty questionnaires were distributed across five categories: four technical and engineering groups and one administrative group. The study also discussed both local and international environmental threshold standards, compared them with field monitoring points, and identified the sources of environmental pollution caused by the Al-Karat Gas Power Plant, which include both human and natural sources.