You are here:
CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF PRODUCTS OF INCOMPLETE COMBUSTION FROM THE SIMULATED FIELD BURNING OF AGRICULTURAL PLASTIC
Citation:
Linak, W., J. Ryan, E. Perry, R. Williams, AND D. DeMarini. CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF PRODUCTS OF INCOMPLETE COMBUSTION FROM THE SIMULATED FIELD BURNING OF AGRICULTURAL PLASTIC. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-89/025.
Description:
The article describes chemical and biological analyses performed to characterize products of incomplete combustion emitted during the simulated open field burning of agricultural plastic. The study highlights the benefits of a combined chemical/biological approach to characteizing complex, multi-component combustion emissions. (NOTE: Study results may not reflect those of other types of plastics that may be used for agricultural purposes. especially those containing halogens.) Emissions from simulated pile burning and forced-air-curtain incineration of a nonhalogenated agricultural plastic (reportedly polyethylene and carbon black) were analyzed for combustion gases; volatile, semi- volatile, and particulate organics; and toxic and mutagenic properties. Emission samples and samples of the used (possibly pesticide contaminated) plastic were analyzed for several pesticides to which the plastic may have been exposed. Although a variety of alkanes, alkenes, and aromatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were identified in the volatile, semi-volatile, and particulate fractions of these emissions, a substantial fraction of higher molecular weight organic material was not identified. No pesticides were identified in either combustion emission samples or dichloromethane washes of the used plastic.