Evaluation of the Potential for Health Effects Due to Short-Term Emissions of Metals from Incinerators

Abstract

Half-hour ground level concentrations (GLCs) resulting from worst case emissions of five metals from three types of incinerators were determined assuming that worst case dispersion occurred. For a hazardous waste incinerator (HWI), the metals' GLCs were determined for two situations with extreme assumptions: (1) all of the particulate emissions were composed of a single metal and (2) 5% of the total feed to the incinerator was a single metal. Metal GLCs were also calculated for the HWI, a municipal waste combustor (MWC), and a medical waste incinerator (MWI) under two scenarios : (1) assuming an emergency bypass of the air pollution control equipment (APCE) and (2) using the maximum metals emissions in a comprehensive U.S. database. These GLCs were compared with Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) standards that protect workers from potentially dangerous short-term exposures. The IDLH levels were greater than the maximum one-half hour GLCs by at least a factor of 26, and in most cases by a factor of thousands. Since short-term metal emissions will not cause adverse health effects, regulators can focus on chronic hazards from metals. Long averaging times, such as weeks or months, can be specified. Real-time emissions data are not needed, so continuous samplers with periodic analysis provide adequate monitoring information.