Dimensional and chemical characterization of particles at a downwind receptor site of a waste-to-energy plant

Journal Article · Thu Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Waste Management

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2009.12.025· OSTI ID:21357686

Buonanno, G ^[1]; Stabile, L ^[1]; Avino, P ^[2]; Vanoli, R ^[3]

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1. DiMSAT - University of Cassino, via Di Biasio 43, 03043 Cassino (France) (Italy)
2. DIPIA - ISPESL, via Urbana 167, 00184 Rome (Italy)
3. DETEC - University of Naples 'Federico II' (Italy)

In the last years numerous epidemiological studies were carried out to evaluate the effects of particulate matter on human health. In industrialized areas, anthropogenic activities highly contribute to the fine and ultrafine particle concentrations. Then, it is important to characterize the evolution of particle size distribution and chemical composition near these emission points. Waste incineration represents a favorable technique for reducing the waste volume. However, in the past, municipal waste incinerators (MWIs) had a bad reputation due to the emission of toxic combustion byproducts. Consequently, the risk perception of the people living near MWIs is very high even if in Western countries waste incineration has nowadays to be considered a relatively clean process from a technical point of view. The study here presented has an exemplary meaning for developing appropriate management and control strategies for air quality in the surrounding of MWIs and to perform exposure assessment for populations involved. Environment particles were continuously measured through a SMPS/APS system over 12 months. The monitoring site represents a downwind receptor of a typical MWI. Furthermore, elements and organic fractions were measured by means of the Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis and using dichotomous and high volume samplers. Annual mean values of 8.6 x 10{sup 3} +- 3.7 x 10{sup 2} part. cm{sup -3} and 31.1 +- 9.0 mug m{sup -3} were found for number and mass concentration, typical of a rural site. Most of the elements can be attributed to long-range transport from other natural and/or anthropogenic sources. Finally, the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons present low concentrations with a mean value of 24.6 ng m{sup -3}.

• OSTI ID: 21357686
• Journal Information: Waste Management, Vol. 30, Issue 7; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2009.12.025; PII: S0956-053X(10)00015-2; Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; ISSN 0956-053X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
AIR QUALITY
BY-PRODUCTS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COMBUSTION
INCINERATORS
LONG-RANGE TRANSPORT
MUNICIPAL WASTES
NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS
PARTICLE SIZE
PARTICULATES
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
PUBLIC HEALTH
REFUSE-FUELED POWER PLANTS
TOXICITY
ACTIVATION ANALYSIS
AROMATICS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
HYDROCARBONS
MASS TRANSFER
MONITORING
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
PARTICLES
POWER PLANTS
SIZE
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WASTES