Assessment of Past Dioxin Emissions from Waste Incineration Plants Based on Archive Studies and Process Modeling: A New Methodological Tool

Hazardous substances, such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) also have been detected in Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and industrial waste incinerators in Korea. In this study, we estimated the exposure status of these hazardous substances and their heath effects in workers and residents near the MSW incinerators and residents near the industrial waste incinerators. We interviewed 13 workers and 16 residents from the area around the two MSW incinerators, and further 10 residents from the area around one industrial waste incinerator, which is suspected to emit higher hazardous substances. During the interview we collected information including sociodemographic information, personal habits, work history, detailed gynecologic and other medical history. Blood samples from 45 subjects were also collected for analysis of PCDDs and PCDFs, which were analyzed by HRGC-HRMS (High Resolution Gas Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometer). In addition to a questionnaire survey, urinary concentrations of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured as oxidative injury biomarkers. Urinary concentrations of 8-OH-dG were determined by in vitro ELISA (JAICA, Fukuroi, Japan). MDA were determined by HPLC using adduct with TBA (thiobarbituric acid). The PCDD/F concentrations in residents from the area around industrial waste incinerator were higher than those in workers and residents from the area around MSW incinerator. The average toxic equivalency (TEQ) concentrations of PCDD/Fs in residents from the area around industrial waste incinerator were 53.4 pg I-TEQs/g lipid. The average TEQ concentrations of PCDD/Fs in workers and residents near MSW incinerator were 12.2 pg I-TEQs/g lipid. Estimated daily intake (EDI) of each person was calculated, and the EDI of all workers and residents near MSW incinerator were within the tolerable daily intake range. But for only 30% of 10 people near the industrial waste incinerator were the EDI within the tolerable daily intake range (1-4 pg I-TEQ/kg bw/day) suggested by WHO (1997). The oxidative stress of residents near the industrial waste incinerator was higher than that in workers and residents from the area around MSW incinerator. This oxidative stress may have been caused by hazardous substances, such as PCDD/Fs emitted by incinerators. The residents from the area around industrial waste incinerator were exposed to hazardous substances such as PCDD/ Fs. Proper protection strategies against these hazardous chemicals are needed.

Characteristics of major dioxin/furan congeners in melted slag of ash from municipal solid waste incinerators

Human exposure to dioxin from municipal solid waste incineration

Emissions of PCDD/Fs from municipal solid waste incinerators in China

Effects of varying combustion conditions on PCDD/F emissions and formation during MSW incineration

Identifying contemporary and historic sources of soil polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans in an industrial urban setting

Since polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDF) were quantified in the emissions from the Amsterdam municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) in 1977, more than 20 years of intensive research gave many answers on how PCDD and PCDF can form in thermal processes. As a result, it can be concluded that PCDD/PCDF can be formed in all combustion processes where organic carbon, oxygen, and chlorine are present. Although there are still open questions, findings can be summarized as follows: PCDD/PCDF can be formed in the gas phase as well as in the heterogeneous phase. Geometry of the combustion chamber, time, temperature, feeding rate, input (chlorine), and so forth may have an influence on the formation of PCDD/PCDF. There may be different processes dominating to form PCDD or PCDF. The amount of PCDD and PCDF formed differs between types of thermal processes. Within the same process categories, e.g., MSWIs, hazardous waste incinerators, steel mills, etc., the PCDD/PCDF pattern is very similar. Formation of PCDD/PCDF can be prevented by addition of "inhibitors" such as sulfur- or nitrogen-containing agents. Results from field investigations, i.e., waste wood combustion and a new technology for thermal treatment of municipal solid waste, support these basic findings. Key words: Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD); polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF); formation; incineration; dioxin patterns; emissions.

Organic halogens (OX) extractable with a water-miscible organic solvent in samples from municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs) were determined quantitatively using apparatus for measuring total organic halogens in drinking water. Besides OX, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) in samples from MSWI were analyzed separately to compare their behavior in MSWI. OX was generated both in flue gas and the electrostatic precipitator and exhibited a linear correlation with both PCDD and PCDF, implying that PCDD and PCDF were derived from OX. These results show that OX is a useful surrogate marker for PCDD and PCDF in MSWIs.

Removal efficiency of polychlorinated dibenzo- p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in flue gas generated from municipal solid waste incinerators by water spray into the gas flow

SETTING DIOXIN EMISSION LIMITS FOR MSW INCINERATORS: A MULTIMEDIA EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK

Exposure assessment of PCDD/Fs for the population living in the vicinity of municipal waste incinerator: Additional exposure via local vegetable consumption

Formation of PCDDs and PCDFs in municipal waste incineration and its inhibition mechanisms: A review

Emission characteristics and impact factors of air pollutants from municipal solid waste incineration in Shanghai, China

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) incineration is among the important opportunities to control the pollutions caused by improper dumping and flue gas emissions so as to meet the environmental guidelines. The objective of this study was to design and develop a model for the MSW incineration process. The paper explains the design and development of MSW incinerator involving details of the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) procedures through model design to the post process. CFD model was developed to reveal these features of the incineration process in the MSW incinerator. The model predicts the temperature in combustion chambers as well as at stack outlet of the incinerator. The solid waste characterization was done, and the laboratory analysis shows that, the Higher Heating Value (HHV) of the MSW is 11.65 MJ/kg on dry basis. The elemental composition MSW consists of 54.8%, 5.27%, 34.61%, 2.37% and 0.3% for Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen and Sulphur respectively which are the input parameters for the CFD. The model simulation was positively achieved during combustion process and temperature in combustion chambers ranged between 930 K and 1700 K.

The estimation of N 2O emissions from municipal solid waste incineration facilities: The Korea case