City scientists claim carbon capture is not a health risk

Fears that storing CO2 underground could pose a risk to human health are unfounded, a team of scientists claimed today.

University of Edinburgh researchers said the risk of death from poisoning as a result of exposure to CO2 leaks from underground rocks was about one in 100 million – less than the chance of winning the lottery jackpot.

A team from the university’s geosciences department studied data on deaths from CO2 poisoning in Italy and Sicily, where the gas seeps naturally from the ground because of volcanic activity. They found the number of recorded deaths was very low, and say engineered gas storage underground could be even safer, as it would be planned and monitored.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) enables collection of CO2 before it can escape into the atmosphere, preventing it from contributing to global warming.

The procedure sees the gas collected at a power station or industrial site and liquefied before it is piped to the storage site, and injected deep below ground. The gas is stored in microscopic rock pores and eventually dissolves in underground water.

Such technology is expected to play an important role over the next 50 years, aiding in the development of clean energy. However recent CCS projects in northern Europe and Canada have been criticised by residents over health concerns arising from potential leakage.

Professor Stuart Haszeldine, who led the study, said: “Our findings show that storing CO2 underground is safe and should allay any concerns that the technology poses a significant threat to health.”

The research was welcomed by environmental groups, but they warned against CCS technology being considered an alternative to other energy efficiency efforts.