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Emissions from Open Burning of Simulated Military Waste from Forward Operating Bases
Citation:
Aurell, J., B. Gullett, AND D. Yamamoto. Emissions from Open Burning of Simulated Military Waste from Forward Operating Bases. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 46(20):11004-11012, (2012).
Impact/Purpose:
The open burning of solid waste at military forward operating bases is suspected to release airborne environmental toxins which may pose an ambient health risk impacting deployed personnel. The Department of Defense has been working to assess the hazard for years, but there remain many problems in both characterization of the airborne emissions as well as appropriate health hazard assessment sampling protocols. This paper details results of a cooperative effort between the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development (EPA) in conducting a field sampling and analysis campaign to determine emissions from open burning of solid waste in so-called “burn pits.”
Description:
Emissions from open burning of simulated military waste from forward operating bases (FOBs) were extensively characterized as an initial step in assessing potential inhalation exposure of FOB personnel and future disposal alternatives. Emissions from two different burning scenarios, so-called “burn piles/pits” and a air curtain burner/“burn box”, were compared using simulated FOB waste from municipal and commercial sources. A comprehensive array of emissions was quantified, including CO2, PM2.5, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and -furans (PCDDs/PCDFs), polybrominated dibenzodioxins and -furans (PBDDs/PBDFs), and metals. In general, smoldering conditions in the burn box and the burn pile led to similar emissions. However, when the burn box underwent periodic waste charging to maintain sustained combustion, PM2.5, VOCs, and PAH emissions dropped considerably compared to smoldering conditions and the overall burn pile results. The PCDD/PCDF and PBDD/PBDF emission factors for the burn piles were 50 times higher than those from the burn box likely due to the dominance of smoldering combustion in the burn piles.
