Dioxin emissions from municipal solid waste incinerators and the potential for human exposure
Although sanitary landfills are currently the primary method of municipal solid waste (MSW) management, the US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that half of all municipalities will lack adequate landfill space within 10 years. Numerous cities and counties are considering MSW incineration as an alternative waste management option. Because combustion is widely recognized as a source of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), including the highly toxic 2,3,7,8,-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, considerable local and national opposition to MSW incineration has arisen. Many people living near MSW incinerators fear that they will be exposed to high levels of PCDDs and PCDFs and subsequently develop cancer. As the controversy surrounding MSW incineration intensifies, government agencies, public officials, and the public question whether municipal waste combustion is a feasible waste management alternative. Given the sensitivity and importance of this issue, however, we have attempted such an evaluation. This paper is intended to examine the following issues concerning human exposure to facility-emitted dioxins and furans: (1) Are environmental concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs around MSW incinerators elevated (2) Are MSW incinerators the major source of human exposure to PCDDs and PCDFs and (3) Are incinerators the major source of PCDD/PCDF input into the environment 67 refs., 6 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- EPA
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 7109218
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-900496-1; ON: DE90008901
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
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Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (1990-)
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
BENZOFURANS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
DECISION MAKING
DIOXIN
DISEASES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FURANS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
INCINERATORS
INVESTIGATIONS
MANAGEMENT
MUNICIPAL WASTES
NEOPLASMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
POPULATIONS
RECOMMENDATIONS
RISK ASSESSMENT
SANITARY LANDFILLS
SOILS
SOURCE TERMS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TOXICITY
VEHICLES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES