Changing Genotoxic Effects of a Filter Dust by Elutriation with Different Geologically Relevant Elutriation Media

Abstract

A filter dust of a waste incineration plant provided for underground disposal was elutriated with three different elutriation media possibly be found in underground disposal sites. Two of these media were salt solutions being relevant for salt mines, when water comes into contact with the saltincrustation. The other one was a groundwater, relevant for non-salt mines, for example abandoned coal mines. The genotoxicity of these elutriates was tested with the MUTATOX™ test, using dark mutants of luminescent bacteria. In addition total organic carbon (TOC) and elementcontents of the elutriates were determined. The groundwaterelutriate was not genotoxic, but the two salt solution elutriates were. TOC of the elutriates was below detection limit (<1 mg L-1), and ICP-OES analyses of the elutriates showed clear differences in levels and compositionof elements.The results of these investigations indicate that filter dustshave to be assessed carefully before deciding where to disposethem. In the present case the waste should preferably becomedeposited in non-salt mines.