Coal gasification

Agent Name
Coal gasification
Major Category
Other Uses
Category
Exposures, PAH-Related
Sources/Uses
Coal is reacted with oxygen, steam and carbon dioxide to form hydrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and heat. Coal gasification is used to make fuel gas for industrial fuel, power production, synthesis gas, transportation fuel, and high heating-value gas; [Reference #1]
Comments
In addition to PAHs, workers are also exposed to asbestos, silica, amines, arsenic, cadmium, lead, nickel, vanadium, hydrocarbons, sulfur dioxide, sulfuric acid, and aldehydes; "The main body of evidence came from two cohort studies of coal-gasification workers in the United Kingdom and Germany, and a case-control study nested within a cohort of French gas- and electricity-production workers;" A Group 1 carcinogen: cancer of the lung; [Reference #1] "These evaluations were typically produced at a time when the available data provided a clear indication of increased cancer risk in an occupational group, but not enough information to identify a causal agent. While such broadly defined carcinogenic agents can lead to general industrial hygiene interventions, provide support to compensate exposed workers and stimulate research to identify specific causes, they have limited utility for informing specific prevention activities and may be affected by changes in process, materials and exposure levels over time." [PMID 29769352]
Reference Link #1
Biomedical References

Adverse Effects

IARC Carcinogen
Established

Diseases, Processes, and Activities Linked to This Agent

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent: