Concentrations of PCDD/Fs in the neighborhood of a hazardous waste incinerator: human health risks

Abstract

In 1996-1998, a wide surveillance program was initiated in the vicinity of a new hazardous waste incinerator (HWI) placed in Constantí (Catalonia, Spain), which started its regular operations in 1999. The program was aimed at assessing the environmental impact of the facility on the surrounding environment, as well as to evaluate the potential risks for the population living in the neighborhood. Since then, among other measurements, the concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) have been periodically determined in soil and herbage samples. This study shows the results, corresponding to the period 2013-2016. Data were compared with those obtained in the baseline survey (1996-1998), as well as with those of the previous survey (2011-2012). The median PCDD/F concentrations in soils were 0.44 and 0.33 ng toxic equivalent (I-TEQ)/kg in 2015 and 2016, respectively, with a significant decrease in relation to the baseline survey, and a non-significant decrease between 2015 and 2016. In turn, PCDD/F levels in vegetation showed some fluctuations over time, being the concentrations of PCDD/Fs in 2013 very similar to those found in 2012 (1.11 and 1.23 ng I-TEQ/kg, respectively). These concentrations notably decreased along the three last campaigns (0.16, 0.23, and 0.17 ng I-TEQ/kg in 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively). These changes would be more related to a number of environmental factors rather than to a variation of PCDD/F emissions by the HWI. With respect to human health risks, exposure to PCDD/Fs in the area under potential influence of the HWI is not of concern, as the current environmental concentrations of PCDD/Fs do not mean additional carcinogenic or non-carcinogenic risks for the local population.

Biomonitoring of Trace Elements in Hair of Schoolchildren Living Near a Hazardous Waste Incinerator—A 20 Years Follow-Up

“…The monitoring program has been continuously conducted since 1999. While information of the environmental levels of pollutants has been quite recurrent in the last 20 years [20], data on the concentrations of trace elements in the same biomonitors (i.e., hair, blood and autopsy tissues) have been updated every 4-5 years [21][22][23][24].…”

Trends of Polychlorinated Compounds in the Surroundings of a Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator in Mataró (Catalonia, Spain): Assessing Health Risks

“…The procedure for the analysis of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in environmental samples has been detailed elsewhere [ 17 , 18 , 19 ]. Appropriate 13 C 12 -labeled recovery patterns were added to the sample to check any losses during the analytical process.…”

Morbidities among People Living Close to Bio-Medical Waste Incinerator: a Study in a Rural Area of Himachal Pradesh, India

“…In the end, review mentioned possible effect (6) of biases and confounding on most of the study findings. Various studies have not observed any association between PCDD/F from incinerator and adverse health outcomes on (7)(8)(9)(10) environment and health.…”