Combustion Products of Plastics as Indicators for Refuse Burning in the Atmosphere

Abstract

Despite all of the economic problems and environmental discussions on the dangers and hazards of plastic materials, plastic production worldwide is growing at a rate of about 5% per year. Increasing techniques for recycling polymeric materials have been developed during the last few years; however, a large fraction of plastics are still being discarded in landfills or subjected to intentional or incidental open-fire burning. To identify specific tracer compounds generated during such open-fire combustion, both smoke particles from burning and plastic materials from shopping bags, roadside trash, and landfill garbage were extracted for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses. Samples were collected in Concón, Chile, an area frequently affected by wildfire incidents and garbage burning, and the United States for comparison. Atmospheric samples from various aerosol sampling programs are also presented as supportive data. The major components of plastic extracts were even-carbon-chain n-alkanes (C16-C40), the plasticizer di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, and the antioxidants and lubricants/antiadhesives Irganox 1076, Irgafos 168, and its oxidation product tris(2,4-di-tertbutylphenyl) phosphate. Major compounds in smoke from burning plastics include the non-source-specific n-alkanes (mainly even predominance), terephthalic acid, phthalates, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, with minor amounts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (including triphenylbenzenes) and tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl)phosphate. 1,3,5-Triphenylbenzene and tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl)- phosphate were found in detectable amounts in atmospheric samples where plastics and refuse were burned in open fires, and thus we propose these two compounds as specific tracers for the open-burning of plastics.

New Directions: Need for better understanding of plastic waste burning as inferred from high abundance of terephthalic acid in South Asian aerosols

“…Interestingly, mass concentrations of t-Ph in Chennai aerosols were 55-1620 ng mg -1 (average 466 ng mg -1 ) in winter and 305-1890 ng mg -1 (764 ng mg -1 ) in summer. These values are comparable to those reported for smoke particles from plastic bags and wastes as stated above (Simoneit et al, 2005).…”

“…t-Ph has been reported at elevated levels in smoke particles derived from open burning of new plastic bags (907 ng mg -1 ), roadside litter (5033 ng mg -1 ) and landfill trash (176 ng mg -1 ) (Simoneit et al, 2005). In addition, secondary formation by atmospheric oxidation reactions may also be significant.…”

Characterisation of solvent extractable organic constituents in atmospheric particulate matter: an overview

“…Anyway, smoke particles and combustion products, some of which are noxious to humans, are released into the atmosphere. In a recent investigation specific tracer compounds generated during the open-fire combustion of plastics that can be used to detect episodes of plastic refuse burning were studied (Simoneit et al 2005). Plastics consisting above all, but not entirely, of polyethylene plastic bags, were handpicked from the roadside and landfills, and analysed in two ways.…”

Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry for analyses of organic compounds and biomarkers as tracers for geological, environmental, and forensic research

“…Currently, the concerns are with risk assessment, human health effects, and bioactive compounds as endocrine disruptors (e. g., diethylstilbestrol) [294 -299]. The application of GC -MS to determine anthropogenic compounds in environmental organic chemistry is illustrated by the study by Simoneit et al [300]. In this work, the molecular composition of smoke particles generated during open fire combustion of plastics (including shopping bags, roadside trash, and landfill garbage) was determined in order to identify specific organic compounds to be used as tracers of garbage or refuse burning.…”

“…9a) was proposed as a tracer for refuse burning of plastic in the atmosphere after its unambiguous identification as an oxidation product of Irgafos 168 (tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl)phosphate, Fig. 9b), an antioxidant commonly employed in plastics manufacture [300].…”