Chemical and biological characterization of products of incomplete combustion from the simulated field burning of agricultural plastic
Chemical and biological analyses were performed to characterize products of incomplete combustion emitted during the simulated open-field burning of agricultural plastic. A small utility shed equipped with an air delivery system was used to simulate pile burning and forced-air-curtain incineration of a nonhalogenated agricultural plastic that reportedly consisted of polyethylene and carbon black. Emissions were analyzed for combustion gases; volatile, semi-volatile, and particulate organics; and toxic and mutagenic properties. Emission samples, as well as samples of the used (possibly pesticide-contaminated) plastic, were analyzed for the presence of several pesticides to which the plastic may have been exposed. When mutagenicity was evaluated by exposing Salmonella bacteria (Ames assay) to whole vapor and vapor/particulate emissions, no toxic or mutagenic effects were observed. However, organic extracts of the particulate samples were moderately mutagenic. The study highlights the benefits of a combined chemical/biological approach to the characterization of complex, multi-component combustion emissions. These results may not reflect those of other types of plastic that may be used for agricultural purposes, especially those containing halogens.
- Research Organization:
- Acurex Corp., Research Triangle Park, NC (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5285380
- Report Number(s):
- PB-90-100835/XAB
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Pub. in Jnl. of the Air Pollution Control Association, Vol. 39, No. 6, 836-846(Jun 1989)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Use of bioassay methods to evaluate mutagenicity of ambient air collected near a municipal waste combustor
Use of bioassay methods to evaluate mutagenicity of ambient air collected near a municipal-waste combustor
Related Subjects
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
AGRICULTURAL WASTES
WASTE DISPOSAL
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
PLASTICS
BIOASSAY
CARBON BLACK
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
FIELD TESTS
MUTAGENS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARTICULATES
POLYETHYLENES
SIMULATION
TOXICITY
CARBON
ELEMENTS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
ORGANIC WASTES
PARTICLES
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
TESTING
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
320305 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Industrial Waste Management