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VARIABLES AFFECTING EMISSIONS OF PCDDS/FS FROM UNCONTROLLED COMBUSTION OF HOUSEHOLD WASTE IN BARRELS
Citation:
Lemieux*, P M., B K. Gullett*, C. C. Lutes, C. K. Winterrowd, AND D. L. Winters*. VARIABLES AFFECTING EMISSIONS OF PCDDS/FS FROM UNCONTROLLED COMBUSTION OF HOUSEHOLD WASTE IN BARRELS. JOURNAL OF AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION 53(5):523-531, (2003).
Description:
The uncontrolled burning of household waste in barrels has recently been implicated as a major source of airborne emissions of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDDs/Fs). Based on the need to generate a more accurate emission factor for burn barrel's contribution to the source inventory, the EPA performed a detailed, systematic study to understand the variables affecting emissions of PCDDs/Fs from burn barrels. It was found that the distribution of the waste in the barrel, the degree of "fullness" of the barrel, and the combustion conditions within the barrel that result from these variables all contribute significantly to the emissions of PCDDs/Fs from burn barrels. A statistical model was developed to identify which variables contribute most to the variability of PCDD/F emissions. The study found no statistically significant effect on emissions from the chlorine content of waste except at high waste chlorine levels which are not representative of typical household waste. At these elevated chlorine concentrations, the impact of chlorine on PCDD/F emissions was found to be independent of the form of the chlorine (inorganic or organic). For typical burn conditions, most PCDD/F emissions appear to be associated with later stages of the burn where the waste is smoldering; however, when wetted trash was tested, emissions were largest in earlier portions of the burn cycle. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were also measured for a subset of the tests. It was found that emissions of PCBs track very well with emissions of PCDDs/Fs, which suggests a common formation mechanism. The isomer distribution of PCBs consisted largely of non-planar PCB isomers rather that dioxin-like coplanar PCB isomers.