You are here:
Levels of brominated diphenylether, dibenzo-P-dioxin, and dibenzofuran in flue gases of a municipal waste combustor
Citation:
Wyrzkowska, B., B. K. GULLETT, D. G. TABOR, AND A. TOUATI. Levels of brominated diphenylether, dibenzo-P-dioxin, and dibenzofuran in flue gases of a municipal waste combustor. Presented at Dioxin 2008, 29th International Symposium on Halogenated Persistent Organic Pollutants , Birmingham, UK, August 17 - 22, 2008.
Impact/Purpose:
International symposium paper
Description:
Due to the extensive use of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), including brominated diphenylether (BDE) formulations, for various domestic and industrial applications, the presence of brominated chemicals in the waste stream is to be expected for decades. As much as 40% to 50% of the domestic consumption of bromine was for use in BFR chemicals. Therefore, the potential emissions of BFRs and their thermal breakdown byproducts [e.g., polybrominated dibenzoop-dioxins, and polybrominated dibenzofurans (PBDDs/Fs)] from waste incineration and recycling are of growing concern. Exposure to bromoorganics is of importance for the U.S. as levels of PBDEs in human breast milk and blood levels are amongst the highest in the world. This paper provides the first known measurements of polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PBDDs), and polybrominated dibenzofurans (PBDFs) in a U.S. waste combustor. Measurements were made during varied incineration conditions including shutdowns and startups both prior to the air pollution control system and at the stack. This provides information on the formation and behavior of bromoorganics during waste combustion and an estimate of the efficiency of the spray dryer absorber/fabric filter air for PBDE and PBDD/F removal.