INCINERATION AND HUMAN HEALTH

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Greenpeace International

2001

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 5

INCINERATORS – WASTE GENERATORS 6

ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN EXPOSURE TO INCINERATOR RELEASES 7

HEALTH IMPACTS 10

INCINERATOR RELEASES AND REGULATION

Stack Gases 11

Dioxins 11

Other Organic Compounds 11

Heavy Metals 11

Particulate Matter 11

Ashes 12

The Way Forward 12

GREENPEACE DEMANDS 13

1. INTRODUCTION TO HEALTH EFFECTS OF INCINERATION 14

1.1 Types of Research Study 15

1.2 Exposure Studies 15

1.3 Epidemiological Studies 16

1.4 Risk Assessment 16

2. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH IMPACTS 18

2.1 Exposure 19

2.1.1 Dioxins 19

2.1.2 Other Organic Compounds 20

2.1.3 Heavy Metals 20

2.1.4 Biomarkers 21

2.1.5 Mutagenic Compounds 21

2.2 Health Impacts 22

2.2.1. Mortality 22

2.2.2 Morbidity 23

3. HEALTH IMPACTS ON POPULATIONS LIVING NEAR TO INCINERATORS 24

3.1 Exposure Studies 25

3.1.1 Dioxins and PCBs 25

3.1.2 Heavy Metals 26

3.1.3 Biomarkers 26

3.2 Health Effects – Epidemiological Studies 26

3.2.1 Cancer 26

Soft Tissue Sarcoma and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma 26

Lung Cancer 27

Cancer of the larynx 27

Liver Cancer and Other Cancers 28

Childhood Cancer 29

3.2.2 Respiratory Effects 29

3.2.3 Sex Ratio 31

3.2.4 Congenital Abnormalities 32

3.2.5 Multiple Pregnancy 33

3.2.6 Hormonal Effects 34

3.3 Risk Assessments 34

4. ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION 36

4.1. Deliberate and Fugitive Releases from Incinerators 37

4.2. Studies on Environmental Contamination 37

4.2.1 Soil and Vegetation 37

Dioxins 38

Heavy Metals 38

4.2.2 Cow’s Milk 39

5. INCINERATOR RELEASES 41

5.1 Releases to Air 43

5.1.1 Organic Compounds 43

Dioxins 43

Formation of Dioxins in Incinerators 44

Dioxin Inventories and Incineration 44

Performance of Updated and New Incinerators 46

5.1.2 Other Organic Compounds 47

PCBs 47

PCNs 48

Chlorinated Benzenes 48

Halogenated Phenols 48

Brominated and Mixed Halogenated Dioxins 48

Polychlorinated dibenzothiophenes (PCDBTs) 48

PAHs 48

VOCs 49

5.1.3 Heavy Metals 49

5.1.4 Particulate Matter 50

5.1.5 Inorganic Gases 51

5.1.6 Other Gases 52

5.2 Releases to Water 52

5.3 Releases to Ashes 52

5.3.1 Organic Compounds 52

Dioxins 52

Other Organic Compounds 53

5.3.2 Heavy Metals 53

5.4 Disposal of Ashes 54

5.4.1 Disposal of Fly Ash 55

5.4.2 Disposal of Bottom Ash 56

6. THE SOLUTION: REDUCE, RE-USE AND RECYCLE AND PHASE OUT INCINERATION 58

6.1 Problems of Incineration 59

6.1.1 Environment and Health 59

6.1.2 Economics 59

6.1.3 Sustainability 59

6.2 Current EU Policy and Waste Management 60

6.3 The Way Forward: Adoption of the Precautionary Principle and Zero release Strategy 60

6.3.1 Adoption of the Precautionary Principle 60

6.3.2 Adoption of Zero Discharge 61

6.3.3 Implementation of REDUCE, RE-USE AND RECYCLE 61

7. REFERENCES 63

8. APPENDICES 69

APPENDIX A

HEALTH EFFECTS OF SPECIFIC POLLUTANTS RELEASED FROM INCINERATORS 69

1. Particulate Matter 70

1.1Introduction 70

1.2 Health Effects of Particulates 71

2. Dioxins 72

3. Heavy Metals 75

3.1 Lead 75

3.2 Cadmium 75

3.3 Mercury76

References for Appendix A 77

APPENDIX B

Individual compounds Identified in the air Emissions of a Municipal Waste Incineration Plant 79