Perspective on dioxin emissions from municipal solid waste incinerators

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Risk Anal.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.1989.tb01223.x· OSTI ID:6079801

Travis, C C; Hattemer-Frey, H A

This paper discusses the following key issues concerning human exposure to dioxins and furans emitted from typical, modern MSW incinerators: (1) Are MSW incinerators the major source of PCDD/PCDF input into the environment. (2) Are environmental concentrations around MSW incinerators substantially elevated relative to background levels. And (3) are MSW incinerators the major source of human exposure to PCDDs and PCDFs. Current scientific evidence indicates that (1) combustion sources in general (including steel mills, copper smelting plants, motor vehicles, pulp and paper mills, and MSW incinerators) are major sources of PCDD/PCDF input in the environment; (2) environmental concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs around operating MSW incinerators are not substantially elevated; and (3) 99% of human exposure to PCDDs and PCDFs is from background contamination, even for individuals living near a modern MSW incinerator.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6079801
• Journal Information: Risk Anal.; (United States), Journal Name: Risk Anal.; (United States) Vol. 9:1; ISSN RIAND
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
DIOXIN
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
FURANS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
INCINERATORS
MUNICIPAL WASTES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
POLLUTION
POLLUTION SOURCES
SOLID WASTES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WASTES