Reproductive and developmental health risk from dioxin-like compounds: Insignificant risk from cement kilns burning waste-derived fuels

Conference · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:234026

Holcomb, L C; Pedelty, J F ^[1]

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1. Holcomb Environmental Services, Olivet, MI (United States)

Cement kilns burning waste-derived fuels emit low levels of dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans and little or no PCB`s. Concern about possible effects on reproduction and development has prompted an evaluation of the research literature especially with regard to the reproductive and developmental effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). In sufficient doses, dioxins, furans, and PCB can cause adverse health effects in some animals or humans. Calculated doses of TCDD-EQ (dioxin equivalents) are dependent on many assumptions, but where human effects have been demonstrated, doses were 100--1,000 times higher than the usual background environmental doses. This would include those environmental doses that would be received by the most-exposed individual living near cement kilns burning WDF. There is evidence to suggest that PCB`s have had an adverse impact on some wildlife although there is no evidence that these PCB`s are associated with cement kiln emissions. There is no evidence to suggest that dioxins, at environmental levels or associated with emissions from WDF-burning cement kilns, have caused adverse effects in either wildlife or humans. 63 refs., 3 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 234026
• Report Number(s): CONF-9404294--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
BENZOFURANS
CEMENT INDUSTRY
COMBUSTION
DIOXIN
HEALTH HAZARDS
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS
REFUSE DERIVED FUELS
REPRODUCTIVE DISORDERS