Since 1980, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has conducted extensive research to assess the performance of hazardous waste thermal destruction processes. Some members of the scientific and the environmental action community remain concerned about the long-term safety of the technology. The issues most frequently raised pertain to the possibility that harmful levels of heavy metals and incomplete combustion by-products may still be emitted from thermal destruction facilities that are otherwise meeting the current RCRA standards. The paper will summarize the most recent data on thermal destruction facility performance with particular attention to metal and organic by-product emissions. Ongoing EPA research in the area and in real-time monitoring will be discussed. Real versus perceived concerns over thermal destruction will be put in perspective.

"October 1986." Microfiche.