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Carbon Capture & Storage: What You Need to Know

The earth's temperature is heating up, and the climate all over the world is changing. These changes can be attributed to the harmful effects of carbon in the atmosphere. Human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, vehicular emissions and some other activities have led to an increase in the concentration of carbon in the atmosphere. Needless to say, crucial efforts must be made to mitigate its concentration, before it is too late to save our planet. While we have definitely seen an increase in various efforts throughout the years, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is one of the more promising solutions.


CCS is a a very interesting innovation - in which carbon dioxide emissions from many sources are absorbed, treated and transported to a long-term storage location. This implies that the impacts of climate change may be slowed down and greenhouse gas emissions could be decreased, but this process poses several health risks to the human body. We'll examine Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in more detail in this article, its processes, the dangers it poses to the environment and living organisms, and most importantly human health.

 

Written By; Michael Okoro

March 28th, 2023


How Does it Work?

In case you are wondering how this technology works. CCS involves three major steps;

Capture: Carbon capture involves the separation of carbon from other gases emitted from industries and facilities. Carbon dioxide from different sources can be captured in various ways. The most common method is cooling the fumes from the industries and pumping them into a chamber equipped with scrubbers that bind the CO2 molecule together.


Transport: The captured carbon is compacted and moved to a location for storage while the carbon-free fumes are discharged into the atmosphere.


Storage: The processed carbon is further stored in a storage site where it is safe from the environment. It is mostly stored in rocks and sediments underground.


Drawbacks

Although this technique is pretty cool and efficient in that it reduces the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, it also has some demerits. There is a high risk of Carbon Dioxide leaking out of the storage site (underground rocks) and seeping into aquifers and contaminating underground water making drinking water unsafe for both humans and animals. It would also find its way back into the atmosphere, therefore contributing to the same problem it is trying to solve - global warming and climate change.


There is also a possibility that the process could also lead to earthquakes which are caused by the build-up of pressure underground.


Health Risks from CCS

Several health risks have been linked to the leakage of carbon from their storage sites and its escape into the atmosphere. Cardiovascular diseases, as well as asphyxiation of effected people and animals are some health dangers associated with CCS.


Also, there is also a possibility of the carbon dioxide escaping from the pipe while it is being transported to the storage sites. When CO2 escapes from a pipeline, it comes off as steam, which swiftly cools down to room temperature, and then turns invisible. This gas is denser than air, so it creates a sizable unseen puddle of lethal gas. Humans are unable to detect the CO2 puddle because it has no odor or color. The puddle suffocates everything inside, including people, animals, and plants, by preventing oxygen from entering the lungs.


Conclusion The Carbon Capture and Storage would have been a perfect technique if the carbon goes into the storage site and remains there forever. It has its downsides, but the world has hope that a modification will be carried out, or a better solution would emerge that does not pose any form of risk to human health.

 

-https://dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories/3715/what-is-committed-warming/


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